" I shook my head. “Go on, swear it!”
“I swear by my life!” cried Aunt Maddy happily.
“I swear,” murmured the others, rather embarrassed. Nick began giggling nervously, because Aunt Maddy had begum humming the national anthem to show what a solemn occasion it was. "

― Kerstin Gier , Smaragdgrün (Edelstein-Trilogie, #3)