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121 " At school, the news that Pia Kolvenbach was moving to England and that her parents were divorcing had circulated with lightening speed. Suddenly I was no longer ostracized for being the Potentially Exploding Girl, but the new attention was worse. I could tell that the girls who sidled up to me and asked with faux-sympathetic smiles whether it was true were doing it on the basis of discussions they had heard between their own parents, to who they would report back like scouts. Soon there would be nothing left of me at all, nothing real: I would be a walking piece of gossip, alternatively tragic and appalling and, worse of all, a poor thing. "
― Helen Grant , The Vanishing of Katharina Linden
122 " … I wonder why she hasn't spread the tale." " The only reason she would not is if she is ill or the story would somehow reflect badly on herself," replied Lady Badgery. " Otherwise, Portia Troutbridge has never been known to keep a scandal to herself." " Oh, I do hope she is ill!" exclaimed Truthful. " I mean, only just ill enough to keep the news quiet for a little longer. Is that too dreadful of me?" " Not at all," announced Lady Badgery. " It is a very reasonable desire. In the case of Portia Troutbridge I myself would wish for something much more severe. Scarlet fever, perhaps. Or the plague. "
