The people began to come out of the parlor, and I felt ready to cry with vexation, when I thought that they would again be talking about me.

It was true, I am afraid, that I lacked courage.
"You want me to go away ?" he said, fixing his eyes intently on me.
"O yes, if you only would," I said naively.
He looked so white and angry when he rose, that I sprang up and put out my hand to stop him, and said hurriedly, "I only meant--that is--I should think you would understand without my telling you.

A woman cannot bear to have people talk about her, and know who she likes and who she doesn't.

It kills me to have people talk about me.

I'm not used to society--I don't know what is right--but I don't think--I am afraid--I ought not to have stayed in here and talked to you away from all the others.