The Blue Castle

by L.M. Montgomery

Valancy was never permitted to stay alone in her room for any other purpose. People who wanted to be alone, so Mrs. Frederick Stirling and Cousin Stickles believed, could only want to be alone for some sinister purpose.

It was permissible, even laudable, to read to improve your mind and your religion, but a book that was enjoyable was dangerous.

"Fear is the original sin," wrote John Foster. "Almost all the evil in the world has its origin in the fact that some one is afraid of something. It is a cold, slimy serpent coiling about you. It is horrible to live with fear; and it is of all things degrading."

Old Mr. Towers believed exactly what he preached and somehow it made a tremendous difference.