How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"You wish to tell me that you, a young woman, associated with him, a still young man, day and night for a year, running about the country with no guard nor check of any sort upon—Do you take me for a complete fool?" (6.2.23)
Aunt Louisa apparently has never heard of self-control. She thinks that sin is waiting around every corner, and the only way to avoid it is by setting up chaperone systems so that it never gets the chance to find you in the dark.
Quote #8
But they caught on quick now; now all of them were patting Aunt Louisa's hands and giving her vinegar to smell and Mrs Habersham saying, "Of course. You poor thing. A public wedding now, after a year, would be a public notice of the…." So they decided it could be a reception, because Mrs Habersham said how a reception could be held for a bridal couple at any time, even ten years later. (6.3.2)
Sexual sin is often a gossip's best friend. And these ladies are no exception. They are obsessed with whether or not Dru and John have done the deed, whether or not she's pregnant, and forcing the two to marry. But the marriage has to be done right, or it will just confirm to everyone that there was, indeed, sexual sin.
Quote #9
"Since you have forced your mother and brother to live under a roof of license and adultery you think you can also force them to live in a polling booth refuge from violence and bloodshed, do you?" (6.3.27)
A license is a cool thing when it lets you drive your parents' car to the movies whenever you want. But in this case, it's a sin: it's related to licentiousness, which is sexual immorality. Aunt Louisa believes that her daughter and John have committed several sins, and her proximity to them has stained her lily-white reputation.