How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Where's that?" Beatrice was agog.
Louise said, "Europe is across the—"
"Never mind where it is," I said before Louise could tell Beatrice that Europe is across the ocean. Water is not a happy subject with us, and I wouldn't have Beatrice worried. (1.26-28)
Helena is a protective big sister, so when they find out that the Upstairs Cranstons are moving to Europe, she doesn't want to tell her littlest sis, Beatrice, where Europe is because she knows that Beatrice will be scared to cross an ocean. So Helena hides some of the information for a little while. It's only the first chapter, and already Helena is being pretty sly about what info she communicates. Looks like she thinks that some things are better left unsaid.
Quote #2
When they were Dutch upstairs, we were Dutch down here. We learned their tongue. We are excellent at languages. Excellent. (1.49)
Helena gives us a history lesson of American mice and their languages. Apparently mice are super amazing at languages. Who knew?
Quote #3
They were Cranstons Upstairs. We were Cranstons down here. But nothing good comes of too much mixing. And it isn't fair. We understand their speech. They don't understand a word of ours. Not a syllable. We hear all about their joys, their sorrows. They hear nothing of ours. Nothing. (4.8).
When it comes to mice and humans, we've got a huge language barrier—but it only goes one way. So the mice can understand everything the humans say, but the humans don't understand the mice at all. Helena thinks this "isn't fair." She wants to have someone to communicate with. Do you think there are any advantages to the fact that humans can't understand mice in this book?
Quote #4
"They are packing to go this minute. The labels for first class are on the trunks. They're away across the you-know-what to marry Olive off." (5.39)
Helena avoids talking about water like the plague, and she even avoids saying the words "Atlantic Ocean" when she's telling Aunt Fannie Fenimore that the Upstairs Cranstons are sailing to England soon. Why do you think Helena is so worried about saying the words "Atlantic Ocean" out loud?
Quote #5
Beatrice, who had clung to me all day long, turned me loose. She gaped at this white mouse, who said, "'Ello, 'ello, what 'ave we 'ere?"
He had a funny way of talking. I found my tongue. Who else would? Louise's hand was clapped over her mouth. Beatrice was agape. Lamont was completely useless. I straightened an ear and spoke. "We are the —"
"Cranstons?" the white mouse said. (6.34-36)
Nigel has a different way of talking than Helena and her siblings. Check out the contrast between Nigel and the Cranston mice here—not only is Nigel speaking with an accent, but he also has tons of confidence. Now take a look at Beatrice, Louise, and Lamont. They don't seem to be able to speak at all. Perhaps the cat has their tongue?
Quote #6
"But how did you get here?" Camilla was thunderstruck. "How on earth?"
Louise thought. Then she sprang off the bed and scrabbled around the carpet, out of sight. But you could hear her if you listened. Then she soared back up on the foot of the bed. She had Camilla's handkerchief in her teeth. It trailed behind her. The one with the violets. She nosed it forward for Camilla to see.
"My handkerchief?" Camilla's eyes widened. "You mean to tell me you came aboard in the handkerchief drawer of my steamer trunk?"
That was exactly what Louise meant to tell her. How well they seemed to understand each other. (7.69-72)
When it comes to language barriers, Louise knows how to knock them down. She might not be able to talk to Camilla, but that doesn't stop this persistent mouse—she finds a way to communicate without words. In fact, Louise has us thinking that maybe actions are a super important form of communication in this story.
Quote #7
He sat back on his spindly haunches with his hand propped on one of them. He was trying to be as much like Nigel as he could manage. Oh, how hard he was trying.
"Lamont," we demanded, "what are you saying, and why are you saying it like that?"
He preened. "I 'ave the honor of being Nigel's new assistant cabin steward. 'E picked me over all the others! We are a team, me and Nigel!" He preened again. (9.17-19)
Lamont has a new job—and a new way of talking, too. Helena, Louise, and Beatrice have already noticed Nigel's new British accent. Check out how he doesn't pronounce a lot of his Hs, just like Nigel. What do you think about this accent change?
Quote #8
"One of our several talents is that we can copy the Princess's handwriting," she said. "Being artistic, she writes in a beautiful script. So do we."
[…]
Even getting the lid off the inkstand was a job. And you should have seen the pen in the Duchess's hand. It was like writing names with a telephone pole.
But, oh, she was deft. With her old bent back crouched over the page, she wrote an artistic hand. Her letters had loopier tails than her own. Each time we three carried the pen back to be dipped in ink, she ran a hand down the arch of her aching back. (9.81, 84-85)
The Duchess has a special talent: she can write. This means that talking isn't the only way for mice to communicate in this book. But writing is hard work, and it takes teamwork too.
Quote #9
With every account, Lord Peter's family grew more ancient, their castles bigger. And Camilla grew richer and richer: an American heiress. The Heiress of the Year. It was a story that had everything because Lord Peter was thought to be hard to catch. And Camilla had caught him just by being herself.
[…]
We were the talk of the ship, even Louise and Beatrice and I. Being, as we were, Cranstons ourselves. And Camilla was not our only claim to fame. No indeed. A rumor had swept the ship of a secret engagement between the Mouse Equerry Lord Peter and… Miss Beatrice Cranston, of all mice. I don't know how that rumor started. Certainly not with me. I blamed Louise. (13.2-4)
Rumors fly around this ship fast. And most of these rumors are pretty false. Camilla's family doesn't have lots of money, and we soon find out that Beatrice isn't going to marry the Lord Peter mouse. Do you think these rumors are a bad thing? Are there any positive effects from them?
Quote #10
But it was our last night at sea before word reached Mr. Cranston. He was often the last to know anything. I believe he picked up the news about Camilla and Lord Peter Henslowe in the gentlemen's billiard room, or someplace where men gossip. (13.6)
Even though there's gossip all over this ship, somehow Mr. C gets left out of the loop. Sure it's his own daughter getting hitched, and yes even the folks back in America and England know already. But at least he finds out the news eventually… we guess.