" and only the sound of a chattering squirrel met her ears. If she were to fall, only the twittering birds would laugh at her humiliation. She tugged her skirt and petticoat up to her knees and made a mighty leap. Her foot caught on the bank on the other side and she slipped. Ella churned her feet, but only succeeded in sliding farther down. Finally, the toes of her already badly worn shoes caught and she scrambled up the other side. She brushed her palms off on her skirt and examined it. She’d smeared a bit of dirt on the front where she’d hit her knees, but otherwise "

― Stephenia H. McGee , In His Eyes