How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
I had to carry the stinking slippers back to our room, but Hattie had to wear them until she was able to get fresh ones from her trunk. After that, she thought more carefully about her commands. (8.39)
Even total obedience to rules can be subverted by loopholes and cleverness. Which is good for the underdog so long as the overdog isn't the one who's more clever, right?
Quote #5
I struggled for a quarter hour till Sewing Mistress rushed to my side. "The child has been raised by ogres or worse!" she exclaimed, snatching it away from me. "Hold it delicately. It's not a spear." (9.34)
Because clearly, not being able to thread a needle properly implies that you've been raised by man-eating monsters. Obviously.
Quote #6
But in bed, before I fell asleep, I'd imagine what I would do if I were free of Lucinda's curse. At dinner I'd paint lines of gravy on my face and hurl meat pasties at Manners Mistress. I'd pile Headmistress's best china on my head and walk with a wobble and a swagger till every piece was smashed. Then I'd collect the smashed pottery and the smashed meat pasties and grind them into all my perfect stitchery. (10.73)
Whoa. That's a whole lot of chaos to counteract all the order and rules Ella feels are imposed on her at finishing school. It makes you wonder…is it necessary to go to the opposite (and quite savage) extreme in order to protest unwelcome rules-mongering?