Linnets and Valerians

by Elizabeth Goudge

‘I ain’t never wanted to learn to read. Book learnin’ destroys the memory.’

Haha

the day I found the book I thought I saw Lady Alicia in the little mirror. And then I thought I saw Emma. First one and then the other and they both looked young.

Question

Tom Biddle opposite hearing what they said, he opened it wide.

But actually he did not get the chance, for Hector on his shoulder said, ‘Hick!’ very loudly, shot out a pellet in Ezra’s face, leaned over and grabbed the sardine.

Haha

‘I doubt if Diogenes ever ate anything but grass and who am I that I should fare better than one of the greatest philosophers of all time?’

‘He desired peace and quiet,’ said Uncle Ambrose. ‘Possibly he had nephews and nieces.

Haha

‘I shall be obliged,

I shall be obliged,

‘I am obliged to you

oblige me

Because he always believes Nan, p.

‘The jam’s jammed!’

Haha

But then Uncle Ambrose was not like other grown-ups.

Haha

They did a very sketchy wash up,

Nan’s smile, bestowed upon Tom Biddle because if he was wicked he was also old, was not as friendly as usual.

Haha

Haha - I don’t get the specific allusion, but I get the point.

Haha

The drive was long and bumpy but glorious.

The heather and ling were beginning to colour and the gorse smelt like peaches in the hot sun.

Question

Jake Barley

It was creepy here on the north side of the great hill, dark and strange.

Haha

They flung themselves down on the sweet-smelling turf, gazing out over the great and glorious view,

when they were rested they drank water from a stream and ate ham and ginger biscuits, which contrary to what you might expect are excellent when eaten together.

Haha

objects about the size of small dolls, queer knobbly little figures stuck with rusty pins.

Ewww

‘The sea is coming in over the moor!’ gasped Nan. ‘And there are devils on horseback riding over the waves,’

It would have been less terrifying if they could have heard the crash of the waves or the neighing of the horses.

Weepin’ Marsh.

Pizzleton

Jake Barley

Facing the sunlit south, and with the cheerful rattling of the trap in their ears, the children forgot to feel afraid.

Nan thought he spoke as though the mist were a savage beast who had been set on them by somebody.

Weeping Marsh, she thought, that was where the little boy was lost.

Simile metaphor

Ezra struck up Moses’ song of the wind and the sea and the bees

‘Why don’t you drink any more?’ asked Timothy. ‘The Master said I ’ad to set an example to youngsters,’ said Ezra. gloomily. ‘Aye, it were a black day when you come to the ’ouse.’

Haha

ale an’ beer,

purple vintage,

cider apples

punch

puddin’ soaked in brandy,

Simile

Haha - doesn’t answer directly

‘They be carved from mandrake roots,’ he said, ‘well carved too. I will say for Emma, she can get a good likeness.

‘They be figures o’ real people, lad,’ said Ezra. ‘An’ what Emma did to these figures she did to the people. She ’as the power.

the spell for bindin’ the tongue.’

Pins, come you out! Do no more ’arms, Spell, unwind to good from evil. Now all good spirits work your charms, Save the sinner from the devil.

Ad ’e gone to heaven the figure would ’ave burnt quietly, ’appy but gentle, but when the flames roar up with all them lovely colours, you know the man or woman be still on earth.’