Favorites Friday - Closing Lines

To bookend my last Favorites Friday, Opening Lines, why not follow-up with favorite closing lines?  I won’t share any that are undue spoilers!

“And he kissed her as they rode away down the high road, where pilgrims traveled, and gleemen, where the king’s lords journeyed amidst minstrels and knights and herbalists and gypsy caravans to all the reaches of Gies and beyond, to Brugest and Apulia and Calabria and to countries so small one had never heard of them.”
–Silver Woven in My Hair by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Charming and whimsical and magical.  And it makes me want to ride away on the high road in search of magical places and new adventures.

“If it’s any of my business, how the devil did you ever get into that bally jungle?”
“I was born there,” said Tarzan, quietly.  “My mother was an Ape, and of course she couldn’t tell me much about it.  I never knew who my father was.”
–Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

I wonder how many people have been absolutely baffled to reach the end of Tarzan and watch him throw away his birthright and his chance at the beautiful Jane in a single noble effort.  Not what anyone expects, right?  But don’t worry–there’s a sequel.

“Happily ever after?  I don’t think it’s quite what you meant, Alianora,” Cimorene murmured to the empty tunnel, “but one way or another, I rather think I will.”
–Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

I love fairy tale retellings that can make “happily ever after” work.  And she will live happily ever after–just not quite the way fairy tales usually wind up.

“So they went off together.  But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”
–The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

I find the last chapter of this book so heartbreaking–Christopher Robin is growing up (which is not the heartbreaking part) and as a consequence he has to say good-bye to all of his magical playmates, and he asks Winnie the Pooh to promise not to forget about him.  It’s lovely.  And sad.

“I’ll think about it tomorrow, at Tara.  I can stand it then.  Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back.  After all, tomorrow is another day.”
–Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

People tend to like Scarlett, dislike Scarlett, or not know how they feel about her but be fascinated by her either way.  I’m in the third category.  She’s just Scarlett and she’s fascinating, and nothing is ever going to keep her down for long–because she’ll fight and claw her way back no matter what happens.

Anyone else with favorite final lines?  I’d love to hear!

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