How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
How desperate the child looked—and lost. Elinor remembered the feeling. There was nothing worse. (8.1)
For all that Elinor and Meggie don't really get along at first, Elinor is strangely sympathetic. Then we learn a bit more about Elinor's past, like how her father neglected her and her siblings because he was totally obsessed with his books—so Elinor understands what it's like to feel lost and alone, abandoned even. Her memories provide her with plenty of material on that front.
Quote #5
So she hadn't run away after all. Did she like it in that other world? Did she still remember her daughter? Or were Meggie and Mo just a faded picture for her, too? Did she long to be back in her own world, just as Dustfinger did? (16.34)
Since Meggie doesn't really know her mom, she doesn't know whether her mom remembers her at all, or wants to be reunited with her. No offense, Megs, but you seem to have some abandonment issues (not that we can really blame you). It's not that she's overly attached the past like some people (ahem, Dustfinger), but instead because she doesn't know enough about the past to know her mom really did love her and didn't want to leave her.
Quote #6
A part of her was still in Capricorn's village, or trudging through thorns, or cowering in the ruined hovel and trembling as Basta came closer. (22.10)
And here Meggie learns the joys of traumatic experiences: no matter how much you'd like to forget them, sometimes you just can't. They burn themselves into your memory and replay, again and again, making it feel like the past is breathing into your ear.