"I do not know what he said."
"You don't? And you call yourself a grown-up girl?... That I should be mother to such an ingénue!... You must be a fool!"
"You do not imagine he would propose in open meeting, do you? I only infer from her affectionateness to me when we were alone together last night.... We slept in a fisherman's hut.... But she did not exactly tell me anything.... And then he was so awfully attentive to her this morning; ... and they seemed to understand each other so perfectly, although both were rather quiet, and not particularly good company for the rest of us."
"Margaret Naylor! Am I to believe my ears? Do you mean to say you have let that Hillyard girl cut you out?... You grown-up baby! When I was your age, no girl should have done that to me--whether I wanted the man or not. It's a disgrace to your womanhood, and your upbringing--that means me--and your looks, and your spirit--if you had any; but you have none, or you would not have allowed it. The way that man stuck to you yesterday, and trotted away with you on that blessed island!... And you to let another woman cut in and take him away from you!... And people call you a clever girl! Hm!"
"But what was I to do, mother? I could not go in for him myself. I could not make him propose to me."
"Why not, pray? Is he not good enough for you? What do you expect? Is it a President of the United States you hope to captivate?"
"I do not understand. He could not have been persuaded to do anything so dreadful. And you, I am sure, whatever the surprise of this may have stupefied you into saying, you would not have me want to be my own aunt?"
"What do you mean? Whom are you talking about?"
"Uncle Joseph, to be sure. Whom else?"
"Joseph? You must be dreaming."