Jennifer Paynter Quotes

#1. Blessed with the love of a good man, I felt equal to anything - even the prospect of living out my days in the Antipodes.

Jennifer Paynter

#2. Hello, Mary.'
It was like hearing a note of divine calm after a dissonant passage of music. My confusion died away.

Jennifer Paynter

#3. I had never in all my life felt so elated. Peter cared for me! It was a miracle I longed to celebrate - to tell all Hertfordshire - and I had to hold my hand to my mouth against an involuntary smile.

Jennifer Paynter

#4. This made my father laugh. 'Mary made a cake, did she? Well, well. Better that than she should make a cake for herself, I suppose.'
Peter then burst out: 'Why must you always be making a game of Mary? 'Tis not fair; 'tis not sporting.

Jennifer Paynter

#5. I saw that he was looking anxious.
'I thought you weren't coming.' As he spoke, he grasped my hand. And if the sight of him had not quite restored the magic, the touch of him most certainly did. 'You're not wishing yourself some place else, Mary?

Jennifer Paynter

#6. Peter was now standing very close - as if he wanted to comfort me - as if he knew how hurt I felt that Mrs Knowles had not asked me to play or to sing. And I did feel comforted. It was as if a tide of warmth was carrying me out of myself, inclining me to trust him and to conduct myself well.

Jennifer Paynter

#7. Who's to say that our decisions are right or wrong without the benefit of hindsight?

Jennifer Paynter

#8. I felt my mouth go dry, my throat constrict. What possible interpretation could Peter place on those words, other than that they were about him? - that the entire song was about him?

Jennifer Paynter

#9. But look behind you, Mary.' She nodded towards the dais. 'One of the musicians seems to be trying to attract your attention.'
It was Peter. He was standing on the dais smiling across at me. My delight at seeing him was such that I could not disguise it - did not try to disguise it.

Jennifer Paynter

#10. I found I could listen without envy to Letty's singing, and afterwards when the applause came, I did not mind that Mrs Knowles was heaping praises upon her. Peter's hands were on my chair, and when I leaned back I could feel them against my shoulders.

Jennifer Paynter

#11. I knew it was Peter playing. I fancied he was trying to tell me something - an absurd idea, but it persisted - 'I may not be able to spell, but just you listen to this.

Jennifer Paynter

#12. When people fall in love, they are apt to go a little mad.

Jennifer Paynter

#13. Ah yes.' Peter's tone was scornful. 'And they must always be paid before the poor tradesmen's bills, mustn't they?'
'They must indeed. They are debts of honour.'
'Oh, Mary.' He leant over and kissed me quickly. 'What a lot we'll have to argue about after we're married.

Jennifer Paynter

#14. I had not the least idea of a gamekeeper's occupation being so dangerous - there had never been such a person employed on the Longbourn estate - and just as I had spent half the previous night wondering about Peter, I spent half the next one worrying about him.

Jennifer Paynter

#15. Peter.' It was the first time I had used his name. 'You heard me sing tonight, did you not?'
'Yes, love.'
The endearment took my breath away - made me forget what I meant to say. I stood there with but one thought: He must care about me.

Jennifer Paynter

#16. Foolish tongues will always wag, ma'am, but people of goodwill ignore them.

Jennifer Paynter

#17. At that moment a solitary violin struck up. But the music was not dance music; it was more like a song - a solemn, sweet song. (I know now that it was Beethoven's Romance in F.) I listened, and suddenly it was as if the fog that surrounded me had been penetrated, as if I were being spoken to.

Jennifer Paynter