The Hollow Kingdom

Kate had never in her life seen such frightful deformities, and the goblins had never seen such a hideous dress.

Kate felt very offended. 'I am not an elf,' she insisted. 'I'm an Englishwoman!

Forks are absurd, he scoffed. They insult your food. They make it think you're killing it twice.

Lively, intelligent, and quite immature, [Emily] usually burst out with exactly the comment that summed up the situation beautifully and therefore could never in politeness be said.

Perhaps she had learned already those lessons in life that make smiling difficult.