"All right," she said, firmly.

"Then if he don't I'll come around tomorrow and tell him I'm ready to be married right away.
And if he says no to THAT--then--well then, I'll go straight to the lawyer with that paper." Ten minutes later, when the Parkers had gone and the sound of Hannah's tirade and Kenelm's protestations had died away on the path toward their home, Thankful, John and Captain Obed sat gazing at each other in the living room.

Imogene and Emily were together in the kitchen.

The "engaged" young lady had expressed a desire to speak with Miss Howes alone.
John and the captain were still chuckling, but Thankful refused to see the joke; she was almost in tears.
"It's dreadful!" she declared.

"Perfectly awful! And Imogene! To act and speak so to our next-door neighbor! What WILL come of it?
And how COULD she?
How could she get engaged to THAT man, of all men?
He's old enough to be her father and--and she CAN'T care for him." Emily entered the room.