Persephone drew her mother and Harriet away to the drawing-room. Her mother immediately started spouting questions- how she'd met Donald, and of what sort of man was he, and how had their relationship come about -and Persephone answered them to the best of her ability, careful to paint Donald in the best light possible, though it wasn't that hard to do considering he was quite a pleasant man. Harriet was more interested in the town of Whitby, and was absolutely delighted by the seaglass necklace Persephone got her as a gift.

Meanwhile, Wentworth Blythe entered the parlor with Donald and accepted the offer of a cigar, noting with satisfaction that the man smoked- in his distinguished opinion, too little men smoked cigars nowadays, and he was glad to see Donald was an exception. He lit the cigar and offered to light Donald's, and assuming the man accepted, he took a puff and got straight to the point. "You have come to ask me for my daughter's hand in marriage," he stated, his expression quite unreadable.