How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Her mouth was wide; no rosebud that could open only just enough to let out a "yes" and "no," and "an't please you, sir." (1.2.4)
You can tell by the description of Margaret's mouth that she isn't the type of shy, Victorian woman who'll just be timid and not argue with anyone. Quite the contrary: it seems like Margaret is always looking for a good argument.
Quote #2
How different men were to women! Here was she disturbed and unhappy, because her instinct had made anything but a refusal impossible; while he, not many minutes after he had met with a rejection of what ought to have been the deepest, holiest proposal of his life, could speak as if briefs, success, and all its superficial consequences of a good house, clever and agreeable society, were the sole avowed objects of his desires. (1.4.2)
Margaret can't believe how easy it seems for Henry Lennox to have polite conversation with her parents only minutes after getting his marriage proposal rejected. Margaret, on the other hand, feels totally awkward and doesn't say much at dinner.
Quote #3
In the first place, Margaret felt guilty and ashamed of having grown so much into a woman as to be thought of in marriage. (1.4.6)
Somewhere along the line, Margaret Hale forgot that she was growing up. And now that she's grown up, she has men coming up to her and asking for her hand in marriage. She's actually ashamed by the thought that a man would ask her to marry him, mainly because she thinks she's too good for any man she's ever met. She likes to set her sights on more important things like community and morality.