"That's what I'm saying."
"And since you're well used to doing what you ought, it's about time you let your duty master you."
"Granted. I allow all that. What I want to know is why I'm not so keen to name the day and get to the day as you are?"
"Along of this silly fooling about losing your liberty I suppose. As if a married woman wasn't a lot freer than a single one."
"Oh no, she isn't. The single ones was never so free as now. They can do scores of things no married woman would be suffered to do for a moment. That's because mothers and fathers care a lot less about what happens to their daughters than husbands care what happens to their wives. A daughter's good name be outside a parent's; but a wife's good name is her husband's. So the unmarried ones are a lot freer. There's few real parents nowadays be what your father is to me."
"If you think such a lot of him and feel you owe him such a lot, why don't you do what he wants you to do and fix the day?"
She did not answer, knowing well that old Mr. Bamsey, at the bottom of his heart, little liked to dwell on her departure. Indeed, she realised with growing intensity the reasons that had made her agree to marry John; and she knew more: she was aware that John's father himself had become a little doubtful. But the deed was done and Dinah appreciated the justice of her sweetheart's demands.
They talked and he pressed and she parried. Then he grew angry.
"Blessed if you know what love is despite all your fine talk. A little more of it, and I shall begin to think you're off the bargain and haven't the pluck to say so."
For answer she put her arms round his neck and kissed him.