Edith Wharton

Name: The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII
Author: Edith Wharton

The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

Summary

“The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII”, published in 1916, is a work by Edith Wharton. It explores elements such as Ann Eliza, Ramy and Evelina.

Quotes from The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (Edith Wharton)

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ Ann Eliza, in many a prayerful midnight hour, had sought to strengthen herself for the hearing of this avowal, but now that it had come she felt pitifully frightened and unprepared. Mr. Ramy was leaning with both elbows on the counter, and she noticed that his nails were clean and that he had brushed his hat; yet even these signs had not prepared her!
At last she heard herself say, with a dry throat in which her heart was hammering: "Mercy me, Mr. Ramy!"
"I want to get married," he repeated. "I'm too lonesome. It ain't good for a man to live all alone, and eat noding but cold meat every day." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ And I have such awful headaches." She paused, racking her brain for more convincing infirmities.
"Headaches, do you?" said Mr. Ramy, turning back.
"My, yes, awful ones, that I have to give right up to. Evelina has to do everything when I have one of them headaches. She has to bring me my tea in the mornings."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear it," said Mr. Ramy.
"Thank you kindly all the same," Ann Eliza murmured. "And please don't—don't—" She stopped suddenly, looking at him through her tears.
"Oh, that's all right," he answered. "Don't you fret, Miss Gunner. Folks have got to suit themselves." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ Ramy appeared with a suggestion which enchanted Evelina. He had gone the day before to see his friend, Mrs. Hochmüller, who lived in the outskirts of Hoboken, and Mrs. Hochmüller had proposed that on the following Sunday he should bring the Bunner sisters to spend the day with her.
"She's got a real garden, you know," Mr. Ramy explained, "wid trees and a real summer-house to set in; and hens and chickens too. And it's an elegant sail over on de ferry-boat."
The proposal drew no response from Ann Eliza. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ She thought his tone had grown more resigned since she had spoken of her headaches.
For some moments he stood looking at her with a hesitating eye, as though uncertain how to end their conversation; and at length she found courage to say (in the words of a novel she had once read) : "I don't want this should make any difference between us." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ Evelina's a mite nervous sometimes, but she ain't a bit sickly."
"She eats heartier than you do; but that don't mean nothing," said Mr. Ramy.
Ann Eliza was silent. She could not follow the trend of his thought, and she did not care to commit herself farther about Evelina before she had ascertained if Mr. Ramy considered nervousness interesting or the reverse.
But Mr. Ramy spared her all farther indecision.
"Well, Miss Bunner," he said, drawing his stool closer to the counter, "I guess I might as well tell you fust as last what I come here for to-day. I want to get married." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ Ann Eliza felt that she must make an end. "But, Mr. Ramy, you don't understand. I've never thought of marrying."
Mr. Ramy looked at her in surprise. "Why not?"
"Well, I don't know, har'ly." She moistened her twitching lips. "The fact is, I ain't as active as I look. Maybe I couldn't stand the care. I ain't as spry as Evelina—nor as young," she added, with a last great effort.
"But you do most of de work here, anyways," said her suitor doubtfully.
"Oh, well, that's because Evelina's busy outside; and where there's only two women the work don't amount to much. Besides, I'm the oldest ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (1916)

“ And den it's safer for Linda too; it geeps her outer de streets."
"Oh," said Ann Eliza, shrinking. She began to feel a distinct aversion for her hostess, and her eyes turned with involuntary annoyance to the square-backed form of Linda, still inquisitively suspended on the fence. It seemed to Ann Eliza that Evelina and her companion would never return from the wood; but they came at length, Mr. Ramy's brow pearled with perspiration, Evelina pink and conscious, a drooping bunch of ferns in her hand ”

Edith Wharton

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Quotes from The Bunner Sisters — Chapter VII (Edith Wharton)

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