"Oh, indeed!"
"He is courteous and forbearing, and does not think that everything around him should be suited to his own peculiar fancies."
"I am glad that you are contented with the marriage, Mr. Wharton."
"Who has said that I am contented with it? No one ought to understand or to share my discontent so cordially as yourself, Mrs. Fletcher;—and no one ought to be more chary of speaking of it. You and I had hoped other things, and old people do not like to be disappointed. But I needn't paint the devil blacker than he is."
"I'm afraid that, as usual, he is rather black."
"Mother," said John Fletcher, "the thing has been done and you might as well let it be. We are all sorry that Emily has not come nearer to us; but she has had a right to choose for herself, and I for one wish,—as does my brother also,—that she may be happy in the lot she has chosen."
"His conduct to Arthur at Silverbridge was so nice!" said the pertinacious old woman.
"Never mind his conduct, mother. What is it to us?"
"That's all very well, John; but according to that nobody is to talk about anybody."
"I would much prefer, at any rate," said Mr. Wharton, "that you would not talk about Mr. Lopez in my hearing."