But again heredity, training and age-old tradition stood between them, finger on lip.
"I sometimes have such a feeling that I want to do something in the world," she nearly told him.

"And if I married Wally, it would spoil it all.

I sometimes have such dreams--such wonderful dreams of doing something--of being somebody--and I know that if I married Wally I should never be able to dream like that again--" As you can see, that isn't the sort of a thing which a girl can very well say to her father--or to any one else for that matter, except in fear and hesitation.
"The way I am now," she nearly told him, "there are ever so many things in life that I can do--ever so many doors that I can open.

But if I marry Wally, every door is locked but one.

I can be his wife; that's all." Obviously again, you couldn't expect a girl to speak like that, especially a girl with dreamy eyes and shy.