And he went.
Changes came then, tripping on each other’s heels. Mis’ Means stayed, and little weak-chested Mr. Means. Frank had gone after Magnolia’s marriage. Ralph left.
Parthy met these difficulties and defeats with magnificent generalship. She seemed actually to thrive on them. Do this. Do that. Ravenal’s right eyebrow was cocked in a perpetual circumflex of disdain. One could feel the impact of opposition whenever the two came together. Every fibre of Ravenal’s silent secretive nature was taut in rejection of this managerial mother-in-law. Every nerve and muscle of that energetic female’s frame tingled with enmity toward this suave soft-spoken contemptuous husband of her daughter.
Finally, “Choose,” said Gaylord Ravenal, “between your mother and me.”
Magnolia chose. Her decision met with such terrific opposition from Parthy as would have shaken any woman less determined and less in love.
“Where you going with that fine husband of yours? Tell me that!”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll warrant you don’t. No more does he. Why’re you going? You’ve got a good home on the boat.”
“Kim . . . school . . .”
“Fiddlesticks!”