Fiercely green-eyed Elizabeth […] is a testament to human indecision in the wrong cases and stubborn decisiveness in others. […] If Lizardbreath had ever given Ben her number, he twists his mouth, he'd never have had his current dilemma.

Biting works well against other attacking ants but not against befeathered birds.

[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble.

But those were substatutes of Ms. Hyams’s code for apartment life, which mostly celebrated and mandated intrabuilding socializing. Ms. Hyams, the doting owner of a gray poodle (“she wore it like a brooch,” said one neighbor), organized pet play dates on her floor.