The Borrowers Fear Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"No one," said Homily slowly, "hasn't never been 'seen' since Uncle Hendreary and he was the first they say for 45 years." A thought struck her and she gripped the table. "It's no good, Pod, I won't emigrate!" (4.20)

Our hearts go out to Homily in this moment, but we can't help but wonder if she's afraid for Pod, or if she's really afraid of emigrating. Which prospect is worse?

Quote #5

Pod looked worried. Since he had been "seen," they had stuck to kitchen borrowing, the bare essentials of fuel and food. […] In this way he need not venture into the great hall and passages; he could just nip out, from under the vast black stove in the kitchen, for a clove or a carrot or a tasty piece of ham. But it was not a satisfactory arrangement: even when the fire was out, often there was hot ash and cinders under the stove and once, as he emerged, a great brush came at him wielded by Mrs. Driver; and he slithered back, on top of Homily, singed, shaken, and coughing dust. (7.6)

Check out how overwhelming the fear of being seen is. It takes over everything in the Clocks' lives. They have to factor in the possibility of being seen into all their little, everyday decisions.

Quote #6

It was an eye. Or it looked like an eye. Clear and bright like the color of the sky. An eye like her own but enormous. A glaring eye. Breathless with fear, she sat up. (9.1)

Gaaah. Admit it—you'd be scared, too, if you suddenly came face to face with a giant eyeball. We mean, really, how do you make sense of an eye that looks exactly like your own, but is hundreds of times the size?