Nothing to Report Quotes

“I found that I was sitting for that examination on the exact anniversary of my last shot at it—quarter of a century ago—January 16th, 1914. And what’s more, under the questions, I had scribbled, in the high spirits natural to sweet seventeen, ‘Never again! not if I know it!’ Before I returned that paper to its file,” said Miss Morrison, “I added the words, ‘First Aid taken again January 16th, 1939. I did not know.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“I don’t like the thought of leaving you here while I go off to perfect safety and security.” “I’ve had forty-three years of the best,” said Mary, “and I’m beginning to be afraid that a great many of us here have come to think too much of those two words for some time past.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“But I begin to think that sometimes one loves people for no other reason than that one has known them for a very long while. This is certainly a time for disclosing character.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“I know I’m awfully stupid,” said Rosemary, “but honestly I can’t see why Tony and you should fight because you love Munich and he loves Moscow. I mean, they both have masses of spies and concentration camps and no religion. I never can see why they can’t kiss and be friends.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“He told me that his family was very ancient, and that when there was a Nazi rally in the nearest town, his father had to send tenants, and he was generally sent with them,” said Rosemary, “but generally managed to get nose-bleed and slip out soon. I asked him if he wasn’t afraid of being hounded to death by the Gestapo for doing that, and he looked very uncomfortable.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“Hasn’t it gone into a cheap edition?” “I am glad to say it has,” affirmed Miss Masquerier, brightening. “Now I am so interested to hear that you are pleased about that,” said little Mrs. Mimms, to whom prolonged silence was an impossibility, whatever the circumstances. “I never know myself whether it is a good thing or a bad thing for an author when their books are sold off cheap.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“Poor thing, she is quite bed-ridden now, so has lots of time for reading. I often think that if only I could find the time, I should read all day. But with a husband and two growing children needing one’s attention unceasingly. .”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“before midnight, and after that heard the grandfather clock below tell every hour until six a.m. During that time the cow never ceased complaining. Its lament was not pathetic. Persistence was its outstanding characteristic. But Miss Morrison had lived too long in the country not to know what it meant. “They’ve taken away her calf, of course,” she told herself, as she hit her pillow, and turned and turned again in the dimness of her old room.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“She’s written to say that if there is a war she might like to live at Willows,” said Mary, “I can’t refuse to have her, for she was George’s wife, and he was killed in the last war. Oh, dear! I will not say ‘the last war’ as if we were bound to have another.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“so feel that as deceased wife of your only brother. . . .” “She can’t mean that,” frowned Mary. “She must mean only wife of your deceased. . . . No, that wouldn’t be right either. Oh! good heavens!”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“I never noticed that they were open,” said Tony in the accents of one who is above the cares of the body. “I kept up a good fire though. Whatever-her-name-is asked me not to let it go out.” “Considering that you are so keen on the down-trodden classes,” said Miss Morrison, with regrettable acidity, “you might remember Doris’s name. I’ve had her for nearly two years now.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“You must remember, dear,” said Miss Morrison, smoothing the fluttering papers on her knee, “that the present owners of these houses are the one thing that you won’t be buying.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“Portuguese peasants made them,” replied Miss Morrison, shaking her head. “Once I had six. Now the set numbers five. A Pioneer of Female Education, who came to lecture to the Institute, ate one. She was very old and noble-looking and, I suppose, shortsighted. I was just thinking how well the green plums matched the rest of the effect, when to my horror I perceived her cutting up plum and mat together with a good sharp fruit-knife. Her niece noticed presently, and said, ‘Aunt Harriott, you cannot eat Miss Morrison’s mat!’ The dear old thing was frightfully distressed, and started tearing shreds from her jaws”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“I have always been sorry for Violet. I consider that her mother was responsible for her hopeless first marriage, and the second was an almost inevitable reaction. But in my heart I know that the poor creature has no sense. I sometimes attribute it to her having not a drop of Scottish blood.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“I see,” said Lady Rollo. “Still,” with rising spirits, “after all, we’re not decrepit yet, Button.” “We’re not chickens,” pronounced Miss Morrison in her clearest voice, at the same moment that Doris opened the door to announce that luncheon was served.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“I never knew an easy moment until I set foot on English soil, and then I was plunged in woe simultaneously by having to send my four trusting, beloved bull-terriers into six months’ quarantine.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report

“This is the second time this week that he’s spoilt the Births column.” Since Miss Morrison was, as everyone in Westbury knew, in her forty-third year, that column was not often of particular interest to her nowadays.”
― Carola Oman, Nothing to Report