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1 " Evidently it was an unusual and interesting virus for quite a number of doctors had come to look at her and sounded her heart and tapped her knees and done other curious and uncomfortable things. Barbie had lain supine and allowed them to do what they liked. Her body was not her own any more. If it had been her body, only, Barbie would not have minded so much, but ‘the virus’ had invaded her soul. "
― D.E. Stevenson , The Tall Stranger
2 " Penney was dusting the room (with a damp duster). She said, ‘Why did you want to die, Barbie?’ It was a question which had puzzled her considerably for she had got to know Barbie fairly well and Barbie was not the sort to lie down and die. Barbie chuckled, she had a very infectious chuckle. ‘Perhaps it was just to spite Sister Smart.’ ‘No, but honestly,’ said Penney. ‘Honestly?’ said Barbie thoughtfully. ‘Well, honestly I don’t think I did actually want to die. I was just so tired that I didn’t want to live. There’s quite a lot of difference.’ Penney agreed that there was quite a lot of difference. ‘How and where did you learn nursing, Penney?’ ‘By being a patient. "
3 " Why are you so secretive, Penney dear?’ asked Barbie. ‘Not secretive,’ exclaimed Penney. ‘It’s just that people don’t really want to know. My life hasn’t been at all interesting, so why should I bore people by telling them about it? "
4 " The hills had looked friendly in the sunshine, but in this wild weather their aspect had changed. They were not so much unfriendly as indifferent – old, grim and enigmatical. They made one feel that human life was a precarious thing. They made one feel helpless and ephemeral as a butterfly. It was a horrible feeling "
5 " Hospitals are wonderful,’ said Penney. ‘They give you everything they can think of; they give you oxygen and blood transfusions and all the drugs in the chemist’s shop, but they never seem to think of giving you enough sleep. I’ve often wondered why.’ Amalie was interested. ‘Wouldn’t it be difficult?’ she asked. ‘I mean there’s so much coming and going, isn’t there? "
6 " Penney had felt just a little bit frightened about the job she had taken on, but she had prayed that she might be guided and the prayer had been answered by an inflowing of confidence, firm and sure and peaceful. Prayers are not always answered, as Penney well knew, but this one had been answered in no uncertain manner. It was going to be all right. "
7 " Amalie smiled at her vehemence. ‘Oh, don’t think I’m blaming Edward. I don’t blame him in the least. It’s natural and right for young men to be adventurous. There never would have been a British Empire if our young men had been content to settle down at home and not gone out to other lands to seek their fortunes. Of course it’s the fashion nowadays to sneer at the British Empire – but what would the world be like today if there never had been a British Empire? "