Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Magic Ships Frontispiece (1943)

Quote of the Day

"Will it feel nice to be on your native heath once more, Susan?" asked Uncle Charles.
"Aye, it will," said Susan, going rather Scots at the very idea, "but I like it fine here too."
For Susan was Scottish, although at this time she was living at Wichwood Village, near London, while her parents were in South Africa.

From SUSAN MUDDLES THROUGH, Chapter 1, The Wedding.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Susan Muddles Through

Quote of the Day

"Taking photographs! Really, Susie, of all the cheek! Bad enough searching the girl's room without stopping to take photographs!"
"It was lucky I did," said Susan. "If I hadn't been taking photographs, I wouldn't have been on the balcony when this dreadful little man came in. Actually I was scared stiff, it was awful, and then hangning onto that door like Kate Bar-lass in the history books-!"
Midge and Charlotte had never heard of Kate Bar-lass, and promptly assumed that she appeared in Scottish history, everybody knew that the Scots were a wild and barbaric lot, like Susan, catching hotel-thieves single-handed.

From WHERE IS SUSAN?, Chapter 13, Susan Takes Some Photographs.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Bernese Adventure blurb

Quote of the Day

When Lise had found a parking-place for her car she went to the police headquarters. The police were very soothing, and told her that lost little boys always turn up.
Not if they're being kidnapped, Lise thought to herself, but she didn't say it aloud because she did not want to start explaining that one to the police.

From SUSAN INTERFERES, Chapter 11, The Search for Rudi.

Friday, June 21, 2013

The Adventures of a Snowman

Quote of the Day

"You have got a partner, you know," Jennifer remarked acidly as Sheila, poaching shamelessly, won the point and the game.
"Sorry," said Sheila carelessly as they changed ends. "But we did win the game."
"We might still have won it if I'd been allowed to hit the ball occasionally," said Jennifer, a mild girl until roused, "without you jumping from side to side like an electrocuted flea."
Kay, walking round the far side of the net with Nicky, stuck an elbow in her ribs. "Spot of trouble over there," she said, jerking her head towards their opponents.
"Jenny's as mad as a snake," said Nicky, pleased.
"Send everything to Jenny then," said Kay, "and see what happens."

From NEW HOUSE AT NORTHMEAD, Chapter 13, Tennis Matches.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Quote of the Day

When Penny next opened her eyes, Mrs. Fergus was standing smiling by her bed, a loaded tray in her hands.
"Och, your father got his bus quite the thing," she was saying, "and a real nice morning her got for the crossing. And did you sleep well, my wee lassie?"
"Yes, no - well, I must have, I suppose, thank you, Mrs. Fergus," said peeny, "but there was a most extraordinary noise like a - like a - well, I don't know what it was like, a kind of croaking-"
"Och, that would be the old corncrake," said Mrs. Fergus, "over in the hayfield. Whiles we are fair deeved with his noise...."

From PENNY FOOLISH, Chapter 2, The Minister's Children.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Walk Along the Seine

A cleaned up scan of an illustration from Chapter 9 of Anything Can Happen. Dizzy and Alison walking along the Seine.

Quote of the Day

"If you emptied the w-w-water out of your b-b-boots," Aunt Lucy began. She helped Susan to pull off her boots and Susan poured out a stream of muddy, dirty, icy water. Then she put her boots on again and began to lumber back to the house. She had never felt so cold in her life. She began to remember horrible stories of frostbite and wondered how soon she could expect her nose and fingers to drop off. She had no feeling in any of them at all - for all she knew her toes might be off already.

From SUSAN PULLS THE STRINGS, Chapter 7, Chang Breaks the Ice.