But the M.A.'s are afraid too.' 'What of ?' Lucy asked, glancing at the terrace below, where already the shadows were lengthening; 'it'll be getting dark soon.

I'd much rather know what you're afraid of while it's daylight.' 'What we're afraid of,' said Billy abruptly, 'is the sea.

Suppose a great wave came and washed away the castle, and the huts, and the M.A.'s and all of us ?' 'But it never _has_, has it ?' Lucy asked.
'No, but everything must have a beginning.

I know that's true, because another of the M.A.'s told it me.' 'But why don't you go and live somewhere inland ?' 'Because we couldn't live away from the sea.

We're islanders, you know; we couldn't bear not to be near the sea.