The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits Quotes

“His eyes were like a lion's, but Jack could not know this, for he had never seen a lion.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“It was morning again and the air was light and sweet. Silver hoarfrost cloaked golden leaves, and cobwebs were wreathed upon dewy grass and shrubs. There was a hint of snow on distant hills on the moor-side of this place, and to both sides of the slim river that moved between the harvested fields bloomed winter flowers.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“I sometimes wonder,’ he said to Miss Silverdew one Christmas Eve, ‘if unhappiness, if cultivated to long, might become a very selfish thing.’
[...]
‘I think…I think I know what you mean,’ said Miss Silverdew after a moment. ‘People are perhaps a bit like children at bath time – they don't want to fall into unhappiness, but once they have, they refuse to get out.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“She had made friends already, and like all horses she knew that important tasks should best be tackled communally.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“The man to whom the voice belonged stepped in front of him. Though frail and worn, he had a largeness of presence that reminded Jack of the squire, and yet made him feel much different towards him. His dress was night-coloured, but for a little square on his collar that was as white as his hair.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“Again, Sir Randolph raised an eyebrow and looked at Jack in a particularly mocking way. It was an uncomfortable experience for the boy, for he was very proud of his truthfulness, and he never considered his exaggerations to be much of a diversion from the truth. Sir Randolph's doubt in his claims put a dampener on this particular kind of pride.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“In a way, yes,’ said Jack and handed the peeled clementine over to the squire, then took another one for himself. ‘But some of us are wealthier than others – just look at your house and your valley, and your horses. And your wisdom.’
‘My wisdom?’
‘You know things.’
‘And you? Don't you know things?’
‘Yes,’ said Jack, sharply drawing in the air, ‘I know things. Everyone knows some things. But I wish you'd share some of your wisdom with me as graciously as your food.’
‘Wisdom is not the same as knowing things, my boy, and I am not wise.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“This valley,’ explained the man with a voice like honey. ‘From the village to this manor, from the moorland to the sea. Where do you think you are?’ As he talked, his gaze wandered around the landscape, and the expression in his face was almost that of a lover looking at his bride.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“The man's face was round, but only at first sight, for a strong, sharp jaw was nearly hidden by a multitude of chins, his high cheekbones were hardly noticeable, they looked so round and ruddy, and the firm, resolute line of his mouth was concealed by full lips and the languid smile of a man who possessed great wealth and little happiness.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“Before him stood a tall bay horse, a very fine hunter, and on it sat the man. He was as large as his voice and, thought Jack, a most peculiar sight: a picture of softened sharpness. He was middle-aged and of a rather fair, but rich colouring, with glinting eyes and ruddy cheeks. He wore colourful clothes, a beautiful embroidered waistcoat of gold and green and pink and red, beneath a riding coat of a familiar shade of green, and bright white breeches with polished black top boots that had lovely brown trim. But there was nothing cheery about these colours, they were strong and shone like metal. Just like a suit of armour, thought Jack.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“Then came the first hint of fog, all silver and gold, and then more and more, turning grey and blue. Fog like that was beautiful, and it was dangerous, for you could get lost in it easily.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“And, oh! It was a beautiful evening, as heather-purple and gorse-gold as the moorland around them, and the sky above was that stark shade of blue that looked neither dark nor light enough to be true. If it were a painting, a critic might have said that the colours were all wrong. Jack, of course, knew better than that. He had spend many an evening out on the moor. And Meadowsweet – oh how she loved it.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits

“It was the sort of morning that was simply lovely to look at, but felt rather nasty if you had to work out of doors all the time, especially if the soles of your shoes had holes in them.”
― Chiara Kilian, The First Tale of the Tinners' Rabbits