How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Section.Paragraph). Though the story has no explicit divisions, we created "sections" to make the paragraph numbers more manageable. Section one is the scene in the hotel room. Section two is the scene on the beach to the end of the story.
Quote #7
"My daddy's coming tomorrow on a nairiplane," Sybil said, kicking sand.
[…] "Well, it's about time he got here, your daddy. I've been expecting him hourly. Hourly." (2.17-18)
Seymour's nonsensical conversation has a place with Sybil – this is a perfectly acceptable, playful way to talk to children.
Quote #8
Ask me something else, Sybil," he said. "That's a fine bathing suit you have on. If there's one thing I like, it's a blue bathing suit."
Sybil stared at him, then looked down at her protruding stomach. "This is a yellow," she said. "This is a yellow."
"It is? Come a little closer." Sybil took a step forward. "You're absolutely right. What a fool I am." (20.20-22)
At this point, we know that Seymour is mentally unstable because of Muriel's conversation with her mother. So all his comments to Sybil leave us guessing: is he really unstable, or just playfully joking with this little girl?
Quote #9
"Yes. Yes, I do," said the young man. "What I like particularly about her is that she never does anything mean to little dogs in the lobby of the hotel. That little toy bull that belongs to that lady from Canada, for instance. You probably won't believe this, but some little girls like to poke that little dog with balloon sticks. Sharon doesn't. She's never mean or unkind. That's why I like her so much."
Sybil was silent. (2.64-5)
Passages like this one can convince us of Seymour's sanity. He's clearly joking with Sybil, as any adult who is great with children might. He even takes an opportunity to reprimand her – if playfully – as an authoritative adult.