Boasting and blustering are as objectionable among nations as among individuals, and the public men of a great nation owe it to their sense of national self-respect to speak courteously of foreign powers just as a brave and self-respecting man treats all around him courteously.

I haue sene this tree oft tymes in England and in moste plentye betwene Ware and Barkwaye, yet for al that I coulde neuer learne an Englishe name for it: the Duche men call it in Netherlande Spilboome that is Spindel tree, because they vse to make Spindels of it in that countrey and me thinke it may be so wel named in English.

Even the call, which grew stronger the further nightwards she walked, and the press of earthwarmth it brought with it, even that was a compromise she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. And yet she couldn’t fight it. She couldn’t shut it out like she could the urge to reach, so she knew she’d have to learn to accept it. Perhaps in time she’d even be able to draw strength from it again. She took a small drink from her water-skin, which was still half full, thanks to careful rationing.

It did not fall to his lot to save her, though I know he would freely give his own life to have done it.