An amused glance at the thunderous face of her grandmother, and she said, "Perhaps it would interest you, dear, to know that he and I are engaged." What could Madam Bowker say?
What could she do?
Obviously, nothing.

The three Stillwaters became hysterical.

Their comments and congratulations were scraps of disjointed nonsense, and they got away under cover of more arrivals, in as great disorder as if the heavy guns Madam Bowker had stacked to the brim for Margaret had accidentally discharged into them.

Madam Bowker could wait no longer.

"Margaret," said she, "help me to my carriage." Mrs.Severence gave her difficult daughter an appealing glance, as if she feared the girl would cap the climax of rebellion by flatly refusing; but Margaret said sweetly: "Yes, Grandma." The two left the room, the old lady leaning heavily on her granddaughter and wielding her ebony staff as if getting her arm limbered to use it.
In the hall, she said fiercely, "To your room," and waved her staff toward the stairway.
Margaret hesitated, shrugged her shoulders.