" and this was absolutely, totally true—that she could have Pearson, because I don’t want him, and besides, I’d already told him to go soak his head, so I was sure he didn’t like me anymore. And then she thanked me over and over, and so I hugged her to get her to shut up.” “That was very kind of you,” said Mr. Penderwick when it was clear that she was done. He sounded like he was choking. "

― Jeanne Birdsall , The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (The Penderwicks, #2)