How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #1
Mrs. Herriton did not believe in romance nor in transfiguration, nor in parallels from history, nor in anything else that may disturb domestic life. (1.36)
Mrs. Herriton thinks that love, excitement and mystery are only things that "disturb" the peace and stability of domestic life. She leads a very regulated life and never strays from what she thinks is her duty to society. Wow. We bet Mrs. Herriton's Saturday nights are bleak.
Quote #2
Mrs. Herriton took the opportunity of speaking more seriously about the duties of widowhood and motherhood than she had ever done before. But somehow things never went easily after. Lilia would not settle down in her place among Sawston matrons. (1.39)
Mrs. Herriton expects Lilia to conform to the duties of being a widow and mother, but Lilia can never quite remember all the rules and regulation of polite English society. We feel you, Lilia. We're just as confused as Lilia by the seemingly arbitrary system of expectations that Mrs. Herriton imposes on her.
Quote #3
"The man may be a duke or he may be an organ-grinder. That is not the point. If Lilia marries him she insults the memory of Charles, she insults Irma, she insults us. Therefore I forbid her, and if she disobeys we have done with her for ever." (1.87)
As a widow, Lilia is expected to follow a certain set of rules, the most important of which is honoring the memory of her deceased husband… forever. Mrs. Herriton will not tolerate the idea of Lilia re-marrying. Mrs. Herriton thinks that it's Lilia's duty to play the role of the devoted widow who only loves Charles (and could never even contemplate a second marriage). But Lilia has a mind of her own, and as readers, we're rooting for her to get out from under Mrs. Herriton's overbearing thumb.