Some mothers make a point of never seeing anything; but that may be carried too far, particularly abroad, my dear. Others are for always being dragons, but that is sure to scare off the men; and as I say, what's the use of birdlime if you 're always shouting and screaming!
My notion is, Molly, that a moderate degree of what the French call "surveillance" is the right thing,—a manner that seems to say, "I 'm looking at you: I'm not against innocent enjoyments, and so forth, but I won't stand any nonsense, nor falling in love." Many 's the time the right man is scared away by a new flirtation, that meant nothing. "She's too gay for me—she has a look in her eye, or a toss of the head, or a—Heaven knows—I don't like."
"Does she care for him?" said K. I. "Does Mary Anne care for him?—that's the question."
"Of course she does," said I. "If a girl's affections are not engaged in some other quarter, she always cares for the man that proposes for her. Is n't he a good match?"
"He as much as says so himself."
"And a Baron?"
"Yes."
"And has an elegant place, with a park of miles round it?"
"So he says."
"Well, then, I 'm sure I see nothing to prevent her being attached to him."