--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The children slept late, and washed and…" description: "\"“The children slept late, and washed and dressed almost in silence. Both of them were afraid to speak. Maia packed her belongings in an old canvas bag ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg" --- # The children slept late, and washed and dressed almost in… ![“The children slept late, and washed and dressed almost in silence. Both of them were afraid to speak. Maia packed her belongings in an old canvas bag and stroked the dog. “I’ll come over in a minute to say good-bye,” said Finn. The Carters’ boat was ready to leave, breakfast tidied away, ropes…” quote by Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg) > ““The children slept late, and washed and dressed almost in silence. Both of them were afraid to speak. Maia packed her belongings in an old canvas bag and stroked the dog. “I’ll come over in a minute to say good-bye,” said Finn. The Carters’ boat was ready to leave, breakfast tidied away, ropes coiled. The professor was sorting out the firebox and feeding in fresh logs. Miss Minton, sitting in the stern, had a parcel wrapped in burlap on her knees. “I’m ready,” said Maia, trying to keep her voice steady. She mustn’t cry. Above all, she mustn’t sulk. “Finn’s coming over to say good-bye.” “No need,” said Miss Minton. “He’d like to.” “All the same, there is no need.” Maia looked at her governess. Miss Minton seemed different…Softer? Rounder? More at peace? “Why?” she asked. “Why is there no need?” “Because we’re coming with you. We’re going on. Get back on the Arabella and tell Finn we’ll follow three lengths behind.” As Maia turned to go, hardly believing that there could be such happiness, she heard a loud splash. Miss Minton was leaning over the side, watching the parcel she had held on her knees floating away downriver. “What was that?” asked Maia. Miss Minton straightened herself. If you must know,” she said, “it was my corset.”” [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 tender scene of departure where fear and hope intertwine, showing courage in letting go and trusting unseen support. **In simple terms:** Leaving is scary but trusting helps. Key Takeaway Embrace change, trust unseen help. Themes courage trust departure growth friendship Mood hopeful nostalgic reflective Type narrative emotional inspirational When to use this quote - family farewells - moving house - supportive friendships - overcoming fear Key Concepts attachment loss anticipation faith Questions to Reflect On - What does letting go teach you about trust? - How do you support others in moments of uncertainty? A Different Perspective The emotional weight may be amplified by melodramatic language. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Maia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-maia-2684883/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Maia Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maia-looked-563583/) [Maia Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maia-trying-5625544/) [Maia Turned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maia-turned-5354626/) [Need Maia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-maia-5625543/) [Ready to leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready-to-leave/) ## Related quotes > [“As Maia turned to go, hardly believing that there could be such happiness, she heard a loud splash. Miss Minton was leaning over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/as-maia-turned-to-go-hardly-believing-that-there-could-be-such/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“I’m sorry you never got my note that night,” said Minty. “I was arranging for us to go and live with them. You’ll like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/i-m-sorry-you-never-got-my-note-that-night-said-minty-i-was-arranging-2/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“I’m sorry you never got my note that night,” said Minty. “I was arranging for us to go and live with them. You’ll like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/i-m-sorry-you-never-got-my-note-that-night-said-minty-i-was-arranging/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“I think I ought to cut my hair off,” said Maia, one morning, as she tore yet another tooth out of Finn’s comb. “No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/i-think-i-ought-to-cut-my-hair-off-said-maia-one-morning-as-she-tore/) [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'm Magnus Bane." he went on in a soothing tone, stretching out his ringed hands. Blue sparks had begun to dance between them like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-magnus-bane-he-went-on-in-a-soothing-tone-stretching-out-his/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I'm the warlock who's here to cure you. Didn't they tell you I was coming?" "I know who you are, but..." Maia looked dazed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-the-warlock-who-s-here-to-cure-you-didn-t-they-tell-you-i-was/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [But-" Maia, still looking at Alec and Magnus, broke off and rasied her eyebrows. Simon turned to see what she was looking at -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-maia-still-looking-at-alec-and-magnus-broke-off-and-rasied-her/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Tequila, anyone?” he asked our group, but his eyes were on me. “Hell, yeah, K, break it out,” Blake said. I tried to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/tequila-anyone-he-asked-our-group-but-his-eyes-were-on-me-hell-yeah-k/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [Women fall in love when they get to know you. Men are just the opposite. When they finally know you they're ready to leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/women-fall-in-love-when-they-get-to-know-you-men-are-just-the/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [When we were all getting ready to leave, I walked up to my grandfather and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/when-we-were-all-getting-ready-to-leave-i-walked-up-to-my-grandfather/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [There is a time to separate from our mother. But unless we are ready to separate-unless we are ready to leave her and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/there-is-a-time-to-separate-from-our-mother-but-unless-we-are-ready/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [“I ask you to come down to earth," said the Baron in a calm, rather faint voice, "and to take up the duties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/i-ask-you-to-come-down-to-earth-said-the-baron-in-a-calm-rather-faint/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [Ready to leave this town and never come back...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ready-to-leave-this-town-and-never-come-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hope we're all ready to leave the phenomenal world, and enter into the sublime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-hope-we-re-all-ready-to-leave-the-phenomenal-world-and-enter-into/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) ## 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 Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The children slept late, and washed and dressed almost in silence. Both of them were afraid to speak. Maia packed her belongings in an old canvas bag and stroked the dog. “I’ll come over in a minute to say good-bye,” said Finn. The Carters’ boat was ready to leave, breakfast tidied away, ropes coiled. The professor was sorting out the firebox and feeding in fresh logs. Miss Minton, sitting in the stern, had a parcel wrapped in burlap on her knees. “I’m ready,” said Maia, trying to keep her voice steady. She mustn’t cry. Above all, she mustn’t sulk. “Finn’s coming over to say good-bye.” “No need,” said Miss Minton. “He’d like to.” “All the same, there is no need.” Maia looked at her governess. Miss Minton seemed different…Softer? Rounder? More at peace? “Why?” she asked. “Why is there no need?” “Because we’re coming with you. We’re going on. Get back on the Arabella and tell Finn we’ll follow three lengths behind.” As Maia turned to go, hardly believing that there could be such happiness, she heard a loud splash. Miss Minton was leaning over the side, watching the parcel she had held on her knees floating away downriver. “What was that?” asked Maia. Miss Minton straightened herself. If you must know,” she said, “it was my corset.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eva Ibbotson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-dressed-almost-in-silence-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-dressed-almost-in-silence-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/eva-ibbotson-2965_children_the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-d_2334122.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The children slept late, and washed and dressed almost in silence. Both of them were afraid to speak. Maia…” — Eva Ibbotson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eva Ibbotson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The children slept late, and washed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-dressed-almost-in-silence-both/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-slept-late-and-washed-and-dressed-almost-in-silence-both/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```