How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She'd started out just trying to get the old man to talk and then somehow, she couldn't quit. It was almost as if the old man's deadly silence was a dangerous dark hole that had to be filled up quickly with lots of words. (2.32)
April resorts to nervous chatter when she's around the Professor (at least, at first). He's so silent and difficult to read that she can't help it—she has to fill up the awkward silence somehow.
Quote #2
Elizabeth had a tendency to worry about things like not having permission. She might understand that it was not at all like being downright disobedient. As April pointed out, no one had forbidden them to visit Egypt on Halloween night. (9.5)
Although the kids probably wouldn't be allowed to sneak away from their trick-or-treating group if they asked for permission, they weren't expressly told not to. It's that white-lie sort of thing that you make excuses to get away with, but just hope no one digs too dep into the actual excuses. Maybe a little questionable, but April and Melanie figure this is as good as they're going to get in terms of a parental sign-off.
Quote #3
"Please," she said, in a feathery little voice. "Please don't tell on us, and we'll let you play, too." April cringed. It was such a corny, baby thing to say. She had a crazy urge to grab Elizabeth and drag her out of wisecrack range, before she got hurt. (12.31-32)
Somehow, Elizabeth's soft pleading works on the boys. (And this is before puberty, too.) Contrary to what the others expect, the boys don't make fun of Elizabeth or threaten to reveal the Egypt Game to everyone; they actually listen to what she has to say. Even if it's in a corny, baby tone of voice.