Mrs. Curwen: "Oh, a mother won't do."
Campbell: "Well, I have an only sister who is a woman."
Mrs. Curwen: "A sister won't do, either—not your own. You can't learn a woman's meaning in that way."
Campbell: "I will sit at your feet, Mrs. Curwen, if you'll instruct me."
Mrs. Curwen: "I shall be delighted. I'll begin now. Oh, you needn't really prostrate yourself!" She stops him in a burlesque attempt to do so. "And I'll concentrate the wisdom of the whole first lesson in a single word."
Campbell, with clasped hands of entreaty: "Speak, blessed ghost!"
Mrs. Curwen: "Stay! Ah! ha, ha, ha!" She flies at Mrs. Somers and kisses her. "You can't say I'm ill-natured, my dear, whatever I am!"
Mrs. Somers, pursuing her exit with the word: "No, merely atrocious." A pause ensues, in which Campbell stands irresolute.