Containing Strange Matters
- When Tom gets back to the Millers', he finds them all sitting down to dinner with Mr. Nightingale.
- Bro Nightingale joins them.
- Mrs. Miller takes Tom aside and thanks him for his help.
- She confirms that Mr. Nightingale and Nancy are getting married the next morning.
- After about two or three hours of drinking and chatting, Mr. Nightingale finally pulls Bro Nightingale aside and tells him that he isn't actually married yet. Technically.
- And Bro Nightingale suddenly changes his tune.
- He congratulates Mr. Nightingale on not being married.
- If the marriage is not a done deal yet, Mr. Nightingale doesn't have to go ahead. He can still ditch Nancy.
- Mr. Nightingale protests that he wants to marry her: it's a matter of both honor and love.
- Isn't Bro Nightingale always saying that it should be up to the individual to choose whom they marry?
- Bro Nightingale agrees that he has a choice: the choice to choose his bride wisely.
- The conversation has gone on for a long time, and Mr. Nightingale wants to get back to the group.
- He makes Bro Nightingale promise that he won't bring any of this up to the Millers.
- In exchange, Bro Nightingale makes his nephew promise that he'll come back to Bro Nightingale's place for a discussion after dinner.
- Mr. Nightingale agrees.