" Twenty years ago. Since when both Jeremy and Stella have discovered her propensity to collapse. Disaster is not necessary; Stella can go into meltdown for no very evident reason. There was that major event a few years ago, requiring alarming medications and specialist treatment. She is basically vulnerable, said the sister, staring hard at Jeremy. Stella herself admits as much. I just don’t know what happens, she says—mystified, mortified—I don’t seem able to hang on. You will need to watch her, Gill orders Jeremy—the responsible older sister; no stress, no shocks. "

― Penelope Lively , How It All Began