A Gathering of Old Men Mrs. Beatrice Marshall Quotes

"What did you say?" Bea asked, looking up at me. Her little overpowdered white face was as wrinkled as a prune. Her blue-dyed hair was so thin you could see her gray skull. Only her grayish-blue eyes were still alive and youthful, but now angry. "What did you say?" she asked me again. "You told her don't? This is not Seven Oakes, Miss, this is Marshall. At Marshall I say don't and I say do. She looked at Janey just as hard as she had looked at me. "What are you waiting on?" she asked her.

            "Yes, Ma'am," Janey said, and went back inside. (3.89)

Well, now. Miss Merle and Miss Bea are both a couple of wealthy white ladies, but it sure sounds like there's a little power struggle going on in the above passage, huh? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Miss Merle has a thing for the Major.