--- 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/e2f/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreamed_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_186591.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/e2f/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreamed_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_186591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreamed_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_186591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/eva-ibbotson-2965_dreamed_but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had_186591.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.”” [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. A girl discovers a hidden world of wealth and companionship, fulfilling a long‑held dream. **In simple terms:** She finds a rich, imagined land and a friend named Finn. Key Takeaway Seek adventure and trust your dreams. Themes adventure discovery friendship imagination Mood hopeful inspired Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - travel - exploration - personal quests - creative imagination Key Concepts personal growth fantasy fulfillment self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - What does the Amazon symbolize for her? - How does Finn change her journey? A Different Perspective Dreams may be idealized and not always attainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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-2/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“If Amazon’s dream of a world without gatekeepers becomes reality, then the company itself will become a powerful gatekeeper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/if-amazon-s-dream-of-a-world-without-gatekeepers-becomes-reality-then/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [“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/) > [“Clovis, do you swear that you don’t mind staying here as Master of Westwood? Do you absolutely swear it?” “I swear it.” Finn, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/clovis-do-you-swear-that-you-don-t-mind-staying-here-as-master-of/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“But he’s such a coward,” Finn said to Maia. They were scraping the old paint off Arabella’s deck fittings, a job which Clovis did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-he-s-such-a-coward-finn-said-to-maia-they-were-scraping-the-old/) [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/) > [“She trusted Finn completely. If he said a pool was safe to swim in, she dived in without a second thought, and the dreaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-trusted-finn-completely-if-he-said-a-pool-was-safe-to-swim-in-she/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“And when Finn complained at the end of a day that they had not come very far, she said, “What does it matter? We’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/and-when-finn-complained-at-the-end-of-a-day-that-they-had-not-come/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [I dreamed for a lover, I dreamed for a friend, and in the end I got a lover and a friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dreamed-for-a-lover-i-dreamed-for-a-friend-and-in-the-end-i-got-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dreamed big. So it's so great to be living my own dream. I'm working in an industry that I want to work in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/i-dreamed-big-so-it-s-so-great-to-be-living-my-own-dream-i-m-working/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [My mother dreamed dreams for Joaquin and for me long before we could dream them for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/my-mother-dreamed-dreams-for-joaquin-and-for-me-long-before-we-could/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [A long time ago when I was very little, I dreamed about being on stage. Some people told me I would never be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-potter/a-long-time-ago-when-i-was-very-little-i-dreamed-about-being-on-stage/) [Lauren Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-potter/) ## 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 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/) > [“I must go-- the aunts will be worried. Guy, I don't know if we will meet again, but--" Her voice broke and she tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/i-must-go-the-aunts-will-be-worried-guy-i-don-t-know-if-we-will-meet/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) [Explore all 144 Eva Ibbotson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## More Dreamed quotes > [I dreamed for a lover, I dreamed for a friend, and in the end I got a lover and a friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dreamed-for-a-lover-i-dreamed-for-a-friend-and-in-the-end-i-got-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the Internet's highest-profile companies, Priceline once dreamed of transforming the way consumer goods are bought and sold by offering customers the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/one-of-the-internet-s-highest-profile-companies-priceline-once/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [“My mom believed that you make your own luck. Over the stove she had hung these old, maroon painted letters that spell out, “MANIFEST.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-laybourne/my-mom-believed-that-you-make-your-own-luck-over-the-stove-she-had/) [Emmy Laybourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-laybourne/) > [A long time ago when I was very little, I dreamed about being on stage. Some people told me I would never be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-potter/a-long-time-ago-when-i-was-very-little-i-dreamed-about-being-on-stage/) [Lauren Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-potter/) > [I've always dreamed big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-collins/i-ve-always-dreamed-big/) [Gemma Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-collins/) > [As a precocious teen I dreamed of being Graham Greene. Well, as it turned out, I never wrote a great novel, sadly, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/as-a-precocious-teen-i-dreamed-of-being-graham-greene-well-as-it/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [My mother dreamed dreams for Joaquin and for me long before we could dream them for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/my-mother-dreamed-dreams-for-joaquin-and-for-me-long-before-we-could/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [“It was a world that most fans never saw. One that many dreamed of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-mensch/it-was-a-world-that-most-fans-never-saw-one-that-many-dreamed-of/) [Louise Mensch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-mensch/) > [I dreamed big. So it's so great to be living my own dream. I'm working in an industry that I want to work in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/i-dreamed-big-so-it-s-so-great-to-be-living-my-own-dream-i-m-working/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [Since my childhood, I dreamed of wearing the Black and Yellow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/since-my-childhood-i-dreamed-of-wearing-the-black-and-yellow/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) > [“I woke myself in the darkness, and I knew only that a dream had scared me so badly that I had to wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-woke-myself-in-the-darkness-and-i-knew-only-that-a-dream-had-scared/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I never dreamed I would one day work at it White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hughes/i-never-dreamed-i-would-one-day-work-at-it-white-house/) [Karen Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hughes/) > [I always dreamed of making it in baseball, but life has moved pretty quickly for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-trout/i-always-dreamed-of-making-it-in-baseball-but-life-has-moved-pretty/) [Mike Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-trout/) > [Worse than not realizing the dreams of your youth, would be to have been young and never dreamed at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-genet/worse-than-not-realizing-the-dreams-of-your-youth-would-be-to-have/) [Jean Genet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-genet/) > [I was never a girl who dreamed about what her wedding day would be like, but I've always dreamed about decorating my baby's nursery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-romijn/i-was-never-a-girl-who-dreamed-about-what-her-wedding-day-would-be/) [Rebecca Romijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-romijn/) Browse all 957 Dreamed quotes ```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. 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