--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But in the evening, when at last she had…" description: "\"“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany steps she had climbed t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreams_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_3142159.jpg" --- # But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone… ![“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany steps she had climbed the day she knew she was going to the Amazon. The dream she had dreamed there had been a true one. She had found a land whose riches she had never…” quote by Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreams_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_3142159.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreams_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_3142159.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreams_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_3142159.jpg) > ““But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany steps she had climbed the day she knew she was going to the Amazon. The dream she had dreamed there had been a true one. She had found a land whose riches she had never before imagined, and she had found Finn. Well, now it was over. In ten minutes the bell would ring for them to go to their dormitories, then another bell for them to kneel and pray. And why not? How else was one supposed to run a school? “Oh Finn,” said Maia. “How am I going to bear it, day after day after day?”” [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maia feels trapped by school duties, yearning for adventure and love, confronting the weight of routine. **In simple terms:** She is overwhelmed by school life and longs for adventure. Key Takeaway Accept responsibilities while nurturing dreams. Themes duty longing adventure Mood melancholic reflective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - school life - personal growth - relationship longing Key Concepts existential dread hope Questions to Reflect On - How can one find meaning in daily routines? - What small steps can revive lost dreams? A Different Perspective Balancing duty with personal fulfillment is hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had-a-moment-alone-she-slipped/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Knowing it was her last night on the Arabella , Maia fought against sleep. She must remember it all--the lapping of the water against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/knowing-it-was-her-last-night-on-the-arabella-maia-fought-against-2/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [Oh, Finn isn’t an assassin,” I cut in. “He’s much, much worse. He’s a banker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/oh-finn-isn-t-an-assassin-i-cut-in-he-s-much-much-worse-he-s-a-banker/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“Oh Finn, thought Maia, I know I should be glad you’re free and happy, and I am glad. Only I really don’t know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/oh-finn-thought-maia-i-know-i-should-be-glad-you-re-free-and-happy/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Finn said he’s only coming back to be a subversive influence within the school. I had no idea what he meant by that, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-banks/finn-said-he-s-only-coming-back-to-be-a-subversive-influence-within/) [Piper Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-banks/) > [“That is righteous, blondie! Hey, we need to come up with superhero names. How about capes—and codpieces? Just think about the idea for now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/that-is-righteous-blondie-hey-we-need-to-come-up-with-superhero-names/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“Who are you and what medications aren't you taking?" Finn said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/who-are-you-and-what-medications-aren-t-you-taking-finn-said/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“Finn said art isn't about drawing or painting a perfect bowl of fruit. It's about ideas. And you, he said, have enough good ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-rifka-brunt/finn-said-art-isn-t-about-drawing-or-painting-a-perfect-bowl-of-fruit/) [Carol Rifka Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-rifka-brunt/) > [“Finn had finished his coffee run and was strolling back down the hallway, a mug of his steaming chicory brew in his left hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/finn-had-finished-his-coffee-run-and-was-strolling-back-down-the/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [I hate to say this, but not everyone seems happy that you’re still alive,” Finn said, picking up on the glares coming my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/i-hate-to-say-this-but-not-everyone-seems-happy-that-you-re-still/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“How's that brother of yours?" Gratton asks me. "Which one?" "The heroic one with the cart." I sigh so deeply that the collie licks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/how-s-that-brother-of-yours-gratton-asks-me-which-one-the-heroic-one/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I don’t remember much after that. It was the smoke, I think. I know there wasn’t anyone in the huts.” “Why not?” said Finn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/i-don-t-remember-much-after-that-it-was-the-smoke-i-think-i-know/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Maia had thought that having Finn with them would make it easier--at least they could all be miserable together--but it didn’t. Finn had disappeared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/maia-had-thought-that-having-finn-with-them-would-make-it-easier-at/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“So when Finn sailed back down the Negro at dawn, he saw no flames and heard no roaring as the house was destroyed. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/so-when-finn-sailed-back-down-the-negro-at-dawn-he-saw-no-flames-and/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“It was the Indian side of Finn that had taken over when he found her in the wood. That managed to carry her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/it-was-the-indian-side-of-finn-that-had-taken-over-when-he-found-her/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## More by Eva Ibbotson > [“They had reached Euston station. Miss Minton waved her umbrella at a porter, and Maia’s trunk and her suitcase were lifted onto a trolley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/they-had-reached-euston-station-miss-minton-waved-her-umbrella-at-a/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Muriel sprinkled salt over her haddock mousse. ‘It is not easy to be specific, but both morally and hygienically there is . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/muriel-sprinkled-salt-over-her-haddock-mousse-it-is-not-easy-to-be/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“You’re taking this very well, my boy. Very well indeed. You’re taking it like a man. I confess I expected arguments, even tantrums.” “Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/you-re-taking-this-very-well-my-boy-very-well-indeed-you-re-taking-it/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [She stood looking carefully at the labeled portraits Ursala had put up: Little Crow, Chief of the Santees, Geronimo, last of the Apaches, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-stood-looking-carefully-at-the-labeled-portraits-ursala-had-put/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“For the first part of the journey Maia kept her eyes on the side of the road. Now that she was really leaving her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/for-the-first-part-of-the-journey-maia-kept-her-eyes-on-the-side-of/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“She realized that adventures, once they were over, were things that had to stay inside one--that no one else could quite understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-realized-that-adventures-once-they-were-over-were-things-that-had/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [What are you afraid of then? Not Being able to see, I think not seeing because your obsessed by something that blots out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/what-are-you-afraid-of-then-not-being-able-to-see-i-think-not-seeing/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [The sisters worked from dawn to dusk. One of them was an idiot; she started shaving her legs and marrying tax inspectors, so she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-sisters-worked-from-dawn-to-dusk-one-of-them-was-an-idiot-she/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“When we’re grown up I’ll come back for you, I promise. No one can stop us then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/when-we-re-grown-up-i-ll-come-back-for-you-i-promise-no-one-can-stop/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had-a-moment-alone-she-slipped/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [But she had to know words. She had to know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-she-had-to-know-words-she-had-to-know-everything/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/please-god-ruth-would-pray-don-t-let-me-be-competitive-let-me-realize/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“It was the Indian side of Finn that had taken over when he found her in the wood. That managed to carry her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/it-was-the-indian-side-of-finn-that-had-taken-over-when-he-found-her/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Then, when he said her name, she opened her eyes. One hand went out to his sleeve. “Can we go now?” she whispered. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/then-when-he-said-her-name-she-opened-her-eyes-one-hand-went-out-to/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“The children turned and saw the spinach-green boat coming toward them. “Oh no! Not the Carters!” said Maia. She looked round desperately for somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-turned-and-saw-the-spinach-green-boat-coming-toward-them/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) [Explore all 144 Eva Ibbotson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany steps she had climbed the day she knew she was going to the Amazon. The dream she had dreamed there had been a true one. She had found a land whose riches she had never before imagined, and she had found Finn. Well, now it was over. In ten minutes the bell would ring for them to go to their dormitories, then another bell for them to kneel and pray. And why not? 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