"I'm going to the library," Gabriel announced.
“To indulge in the dismals?”
“To peruse my books, as any sensible person would.”
"Go read your miserable books."
"Go clean my miserable room."
"It's not miserable. It's just dusty."
"Everything in this house is miserable."
"Not everything," Clara said without thinking.
Gabriel looked at her sharply. "Clara…"
“I shall now tend to my duties with the utmost meticulousness. My commitment to the removal of all dust and common dirt shall be quite without parallel.”
“And I shall apply myself to my reading, attending to the text with an insightful concentration upon... the very prose itself.”
"Very well."
"Excellent."
"Wonderful."
"Stop agreeing with me."
"Stop being agreeable."
"I'm never agreeable."
"You were, a moment before.”
"A momentary lapse."
"We should ensure it doesn't happen again."
"Absolutely."
"Good."
"Excellent."
"We're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"This. Whatever this is."
“This is of no consequence.”
“It does not feel of so trifling a matter.”
"Then what does it feel like?"
Clara considered. "Like standing on the edge of a cliff and trying to convince yourself you're afraid of heights while secretly wondering what it would feel like to fly."
