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1 " She was enfolded in the great wings of Mrs. Whatsit and she felt comfort and strength pouring through her. Mrs. Whatsit was not speaking aloud, and yet through the wings Meg understood words." My child, do not despair. Do you think we would have brought you here if there was no hope? We are asking you to do a difficult thing, but we are confident that you can do it. Your father needs help, he needs courage, and for his children he may be able to do what he cannot do for himself. "
2 " We want them to see their home planet," Mrs. Whatsit said. The Medium lost the delighted smile she had worn till then. " Oh, why must you make me look at unpleasant things when there are so many delightful ones to see?" Again Mrs. Which's voice reverberated through the cave. " There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones. "
3 " We are going to your father," Mrs. Which said. " But where is he?" Meg went over to Mrs. Which and stamped as though she were as young as Charles Wallace. Mrs. Whatsit answered in a voice that was low but quite firm. " On a planet that has given in. So you must prepare to be very strong. "
4 " And we're not alone, you know, children," came Mrs. Whatsit, the comforter. " All through the universe, it's being fought, all through the cosmos, and my, but it's a grand and exciting battle. I know it's hard for you to understand about size, how there's very little difference in the size of the tiniest microbe and the greatest galaxy. You think about that, and maybe it won't seem strange to you that some of our very best fighters have come right from your own planet, and it's a little planet, dears, out on the edge of a little galaxy. You can be proud that it's done so well." " Who have our fighters been? Calvin asked." Oh, you must know them, dear," Mrs. Whatsit said. Mrs. Who's spectacles shone out at them triumphantly. " And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." " Jesus!" Charles Wallace said. " Why of course, Jesus!" " Of course!" Mrs. Whatsit said. " Go on, Charles, love. There were others. All your great artists. They've been lights for us to see by. "
5 " In your language you have a form of poetry called a sonnet...It is a very strict form of poetry, is it not?...There are fourteen lines, I believe, all in iambic pentameter. That's a very strict rhythm or meter, yes?...And each line has to end with a rigid rhyme pattern. And if the poet does not do it exactly this way, it is not a sonnet, is it?''No.''But within this strict form the poet has complete freedom to say whatever he wants, doesn't he?''Yes." Calvin nodded again.'So,' said Mrs. Whatsit.'So what?''Oh, do not be stupid, boy!' Mrs. Whatsit scolded. 'You know perfectly well what I am driving at!''You mean you're comparing our lives to a sonnet? A strict form, but with freedom within it?''Yes,' Mrs. Whatsit said. " You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. "
6 " From the shoulders, slowly a pair of wings unfolded, wings made of rainbows, of light upon water, of poetry. Calvin fell to his knees. " No," Mrs. Whatsit said, though her voice was not Mrs. Whatsit's voice. " Not to me Calvin. Never to me. Stand up. "
7 " She was silent; the great wings almost stopped moving; only a delicate stirring seemed to keep them aloft. " Listen, then," Mrs. Whatsit said. The resonant voice rose and the words seemed to be all around them so that Meg felt that she could almost reach out and touch them: " Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that there is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift their voice; let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord! "
8 " It was a star," Mrs. Whatsit said sadly. " A star giving up its life in battle with the Thing. It won, oh, yes, my children, it won. But it lost its life in the winning. "
9 " I didn't mean to tell you," Mrs. Whatsit faltered. " I didn't mean ever to let you know. But oh, my dears, I did so love being a star!" " Yyouu are sstill verry yyoungg," Mrs Witch said, her voice faintly chiding. The Medium sat looking happily at the star-filled sky in her ball, smiling, and nodding and chuckling gently. But Meg noticed that her eyes were drooping, and suddenly her head fell forward and she gave a faint snore." Poor thing," Mrs Whatsit said, " we've worn her out. It's very hard work for her. "
