"My dear, it seems to me that, for a widow, you are rather coquettish."
"In my opinion, father," she made haste to reply, "a widow is more excusable for being coquettish than a married woman whose husband is alive; for, you see, a widow is free."
"Yes, no doubt that is true, especially when she has been a widow a long while."
"Well, do you call six months nothing? And I am in my seventh!"
"Yes, indeed! yes, indeed!—Never mind; the story of the Matron of Ephesus no longer seems improbable to me."
"What's that about the Matron of Ephesus? I don't know that story."
"It's a fable; but it might very well be history, after all."
"Ah! did someone ring?"
"I didn't hear anything."
"How late your people come!"