But he adored them both-his gruff but gentle father (" hands as thick as strip steaks" ) and his melancholic wisp of a mother, who was wooed to Loyalty but never fitted in.
It climbed steadily until they were flying through wisps of chilly cloud, and Harry could no longer make out the little colored dots which were cars pouring in and out of the capital.
For a moment a phrase tried to take shape in my mouth and my lips parted like a dumb man's, as though there was more struggling upon them than a wisp of startled air.