How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"We were rich then," said Homily. "Oh, we did have some lovely things! You were only a tot, Arrietty, and wouldn't remember. We had a whole suite of walnut furniture out of the doll's house and a set of wine glasses in green glass, and a musical snuffbox, and the cousins would come and we'd have parties. Do you remember, Pod?" (5.28)
So the Clocks used to live large. What happened to all that fancy furniture, and the parties? Why are they living in humbler surroundings, now?
Quote #5
"Oh, you must've heard me talk of the Overmantels," exclaimed Homily, "that stuck-up lot who lived in the wall high up—among the lath and plaster behind the mantelpiece in the morning room. And a queer lot they were. The men smoked all the time because the tobacco jars were kept there […] The women were a conceited lot too, always admiring themselves in all those bits of overmantel looking glass. They never asked anyone up there and I, for one, never wanted to go." (5.30)
We're not so sure we believe Homily when she says she never wanted to go visit their home… In fact, we think she means quite the opposite of what she's saying here, whether she admits it or not.
Quote #6
"Your Aunt Lupy, who married your Uncle Hendreary, was a Harpsichord by marriage and we all know the airs she gave herself […] well, she'd no right to. She was only a Rain-Pipe from the stables before she married Harpsichord." (5.38, 40)
Ah, so here's a glimpse into the strange social hierarchy the borrowers have going on. It's all about where you live and how you marry. Oh wait, that doesn't sound unfamiliar.