Angu Ayah: [Ayah and Mr. Dean both admire an old wall painting which depicts the palace in its former glory days, when it served as the so-called "House of Women" - a place where Toda Rai's father housed his concubines] A convent in this house! What do you think of that?
Mr. Dean: The brothers only stayed five months. Perhaps the sisters won't stay long, either.
[Ayah and Mr. Dean grin mischievously at each other]

Sister Clodagh: [to Mr. Dean] You are objectionable when sober, and abominable when drunk!

Sister Clodagh: We all need discipline. You said yourself they're like children. Without discipline we should all behave like children.
Mr. Dean: Oh. Don't you like children, Sister?

Sister Clodagh: Well I really don't know what to do.
Mr. Dean: What would Christ have done?

Sister Ruth: Sister, the schoolroom is overflowing with children. We've nothing unpacked yet. No one understands the language. There are too many of them anyway, and they all smell!

Sister Ruth: What can you do with them? They look very stupid to me. Remember, they can't speak a word of Hindustani, *or* English.

Mr. Dean: [Meeting Sister Clodagh for the first time] I'm the general's agent. He welcomes you to Mopu. Understood you wanted to see me.
Sister Clodagh: We want to talk to you on business.
Mr. Dean: I didn't suppose you wanted to talk to me about anything else.
Mr. Dean: [Realizing his comment was a bit snarky] Sorry. Perhaps that wasn't fair.
Sister Clodagh: Mr. Dean, you know that General Toda Rai has given us this house for a new foundation of our Order. We very much appreciate it. It's very generous of him.
Mr. Dean: Yes. You'd like the General, Sister. He also has a superior being.
Sister Briony: [Taken aback] Really!
Sister Clodagh: I don't know why you are being so rude to me, Mr. Dean. I have to talk business with you whether I like it or not.
Mr. Dean: Well, talk it, then, and don't teach at me.

The Old General: [Speaking to the old Ayah, who dates back to when the palace, now intended for nuns, was used to house Toda Rai's father's concubines] Now listen, Ayah. I have invited some ladies to stay here, at the "house of women."
Angu Ayah: [Ecstatic, not realizing that the "ladies" Toda Rai is referring to are nuns] Ladies! Oh, that will be like old times!
The Old General: It will not be in the least like old times. They are not that kind of "lady" at all!
Angu Ayah: Then they won't be any fun.
The Old General: They are not coming for fun. These are nuns. Do you know what a nun is?
Angu Ayah: [Disdainfully] They kneel and pray all day like the monks you invited last year.
The Old General: I'm going to give them this house to make a school and a hospital for the people.
Angu Ayah: [Agitated, her voice rising] You know nobody here wants a school, and I'm sure they don't want a hospital!
The Old General: How do they know what they want until they try?
[Mr. Dean enters the room]
The Old General: The people have all kinds of diseases. They have ringworms.
Mr. Dean: They don't mind having ringworm.
The Old General: Then they ought to mind. And it will all be free!
Angu Ayah: It was free last time, and nobody came!
The Old General: They will this time.

The Old General: Do you see that crate? Sausages! They will eat sausages. Europeans eat sausages wherever they go.

Mother Dorothea: -
[With Sister Clodagh: looking at photos of the palace at Mopu]
Mother Dorothea: The house is nine thousand feet up - very cold, but good air. General Toda Rai, who has invited us to Mopu, has promised us every help. He was a little afraid when he learned that we are bound to our order only by yearly vows. I explained this rule to him.
Sister Clodagh: Yes, Reverend Mother.
Mother Dorothea: For more than a century, to serve voluntarily has been one of the glories of our Order.
Sister Clodagh: And our greatest strength.
Mother Dorothea: Exactly. He understands now. Is there anything you would like to ask?
Sister Clodagh: Who am I to take with me?