"Perhaps they are afraid you will do something imprudent if they do not take care."
"That's what they call it, with their ridiculous ways of looking at things. Mrs. Marx, I wish people had sense."
"Perhaps they are right. Perhaps they have sense, and it would be imprudent."
"Why? Mrs. Marx, I am sure you have sense. I have plenty to live upon, and live as I like. There is no difficulty in my case about ways and means."
"What is the difficulty, then?"
"You see, I don't want to go against my mother and sister, unless I had some encouragement to think that Miss Lothrop would listen to me; and I thought—I hoped—you would be able to help me."
"How can I help you?"
"Tell me what I shall do."
"Well, when it comes to marryin'," said Mrs. Marx, "I always say to folks, If you can live and get along without gettin' married—don't!"
"Don't get married?"