Her metaphors for her children included barnacles encrusting a ship and limpets clinging to a rock.

“And then everything went on very quietly for a fortnight, says Dr. Jordan. He i…”

“Then we had the irises, rising beautiful and cool on their tall stalks, like bl…”

“There's the story, then there's the real story, then there's the story of how t…”

“It’s a good excuse, though, orphanhood. It explains everything—every mistake an…”