Q: for inscrutable reasons the author has chosen to let death speak first to the humans, who then answer him, but the pictures still show death on the right page (looking left) and the humans on the left page (looking right), so the reader has to read death's request on the right page first and then the dying person's reply on the left page.
A: For inscrutable reasons the author has chosen to let Death speak first to the humans, who then answer him, but the pictures still show Death on the right page (looking left) and the humans on the left page (looking right), so the reader has to read Death's request on the right page first and then the dying person's reply on the left page.

Q: but the bride sat still, and said nothing, till at last the bridegroom said to her, "now, sweetheart, do you know no story? tell us something."
A: But the bride sat still, and said nothing, till at last the bridegroom said to her, "Now, sweetheart, do you know no story? Tell us something."

Q: elder was almost as sensitive as hawthorn to metsulfuron methyl, whereas swedish whitebeam was somewhat less sensitive.
A: Elder was almost as sensitive as hawthorn to metsulfuron methyl, whereas Swedish whitebeam was somewhat less sensitive.

Q: after a few stops all hell breaks loose in the back of the bus.
A:
After a few stops all Hell breaks loose in the back of the bus.