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1 " What Morland wanted was a wife exactly like his mother; a wife who would say ‘Yes, dear.’ Julia had often smiled to herself when she heard Mrs. Beverley say ‘Yes, dear’ and had despised her just a little for having no mind of her own . . . but perhaps poor Mrs. Beverley had become a ‘Yes, dear’ sort of wife because it was the only way to live comfortably with a ‘Do this’ sort of husband! "
― D.E. Stevenson , The Blue Sapphire
2 " Because I’m a Christian.’ She had been pushed beyond the limit of her endurance and the words had burst out without thinking . . . but of course it was true. That really was the answer; for if you were a Christian you had to forgive people who showed contrition, no matter what they had done. She had no idea what ‘Uncle Randal’ had done, but he was sorry and wanted to end the feud. If you did not forgive other people you could not expect forgiveness from God . . . "
3 " Of course we intend to be married! I don’t know what you mean.’ Retta laughed. ‘You don’t seem very keen to fix a day for the wedding; that’s what I mean. If you really want to marry Morland you’ll have to do something about it. I may not know much about books and music—you think I’m pretty dim—but I know a good deal about men, and you can take it from me that Morland needs a good shake-up.’ ‘A good shake-up!’ echoed Julia in bewildered tones. ‘Yes, he’s thoroughly selfish and pleased with himself. If that’s the sort of man you like, it’s all right—none of my business. "
4 " Interesting? What do you mean?’ ‘Here are two brothers,’ explained Neil. ‘Andrew steals Randal’s bride, and makes off with her like young Lochinvar, and twenty years later Randal steals Andrew’s daughter. "
5 " Julia understood perfectly and was not sorry to be banished, for she was half-way through Villette, which she had found on Uncle Randal’s shelves. Lucy Snowe was annoying, of course (Julia would have liked to take her and shake her and tell her not to be a silly little ass), but all the same she was so enthralled by the creature’s misadventures that it was difficult to put the book down. "
6 " Every day,’ nodded Julia. ‘I’ve learnt quite a lot. What an easy way of making money, isn’t it?’ ‘But, look here! You mustn’t try speculating on your own. It’s frightfully risky. The thing to do is to put your pile into something safe.’ ‘Oh, I know,’ she agreed. ‘I’ve learnt enough about business to know that I don’t know much.’ ‘Some people never learn as much as that. "
7 " Oh well, that’s what he did. He’s very interested in boys. He used to go down to the club in the evening and chat to the boys; he taught them to play badminton and helped them to produce plays. They did carpentry and photography—all that sort of thing, you know,’ said Mr. Baird vaguely. ‘Of course latterly, when he was ill, he wasn’t able to go, but I managed to find a man to run the place for him and I hear things are going on quite satisfactorily. "
8 " I can’t remember a thing about it.’ ‘Och, what a night I’ve had!’ exclaimed poor Maggie. ‘There was him lying below and you lying above, and me up and down the stair wondering which of you was the worst and what I ought to do, wondering what kind of queer drug Neil had given you and what like you would be in the morning. "
9 " Mr. Silver’s letter was rather curt. He merely said that the one pound shares were standing at two and sixpence. The fact was, Mr. Silver was annoyed with Miss Harburn and extremely worried about his own five hundred pounds which, in a moment of madness, he had invested in Coribundas and which he could ill-afford to lose. Julia was not in the least worried, she was excited. It was thrilling, a sort of gamble—like putting money on a horse, but much safer, of course. "
