How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"The King's going to be dreadfully cross," she said. "Didn't he make you promise to stay inside?"
"We are inside!" said Bramble. "Da-dum! Next time the King will have to rethink his wording." (2.30-31)
That's the thing about rules: sometimes you can find wiggle-room in the wording that'll let you bend or twist them to get what you want. And as we get to know Bramble, it's increasingly obvious that she's clever enough to, ah, creatively interpret almost any rule that comes her way.
Quote #5
She told them about how balls and promenades and courting weren't allowed, and how they were to keep inside, not even allowed out to the gardens. She told them that the windows would be draped for a year and that they would have to get used to wearing black for a year, too. And she told them about the clocks, how they would be stopped at the time of that person's death, and that music wasn't allowed either. (4.20)
Wow—there are a lot of rules associated with mourning. It sounds like a serious drag. But there's a reason for all these rules, right? We learn later on that what you do in mourning is supposed to reflect how you feel. So letting people party 24/7 wouldn't be appropriate, since when someone you love dies you're probably not partying on the inside. The rules, then, are there to help honor that.
Quote #6
Azalea hadn't thought she missed the King, his hard adherence to rules and his formalities, but the giddiness in her chest proved otherwise. (4.48)
It's pretty significant that when Azalea thinks of the King, one of the first things that comes to her mind is how rules-oriented he is. This shows how central this trait is to his whole personality. It also shows that Azalea is maybe one step closer to accepting her dad for who he is and loving him anyway. It's a slow road, but she eventually gets there.