Linnets and Valerians

by Elizabeth Goudge

Robert found he was sweating profusely and trembling like an aspen leaf. He did not know what an aspen leaf was, but he knew it was what you trembled like when a moment of supreme crisis was safely passed.

People who are quite sure what one ought to do are always obeyed, even if what they think one ought to do isn’t what one ought to do,

Robert did not notice these things about Moses because he was a practical person, always much occupied in telling people what they ought to do, but Timothy was not practical and following where Robert led he was able to notice things.

Apart from Father, he was the first grown-up they had met who understood that you couldn’t be good without something to be good with.