Jane Smiley: A Fictional Narrative

Ginny awoke to the sound of shouting. She sat up and yawned. What could be going on this late? She wondered to herself. She rose to her feet, her eyes still half shut. Her feet, by themselves it seemed, began to walk her towards the banister. She crouched down and started to listen.
“I will not do it! You cannot make me!” Blithe's unmistakable voice cried.
“Now darling, you have not even met Evander,” Father's soft voice cooed.
“I don't need to meet him! Evander Layton, Earl of Edric! He's sounds horrid!”
“How can you say a person sounds horrid from just their name love?” Mother tried.
“Love, darling, you use all those names just to try to get me on your side. But I have a mind to you know! I can choose my own path. I like being in control of my life, and

“That's the thing. I have met him. I saw him the other day, I don't remember where. He swaggered up to me and said, 'Hello, and who is this pretty young lady.' in his deep voice. He had the kind of voice that would have made any woman swoon. But not me, I wasn't fazed my it.”
“What did you say in reponse?”
“I said, 'My name is Blithe.' and then I turned away. He grabbed my shoulder and tuned me to face him.
'A first name's all I get? Do you not have a surname?' he said. I replied, 'It seems hardly fair for me to give all that away when I don't know yours.' He smiled and said, 'My name is Evander Layton, Earl of
Edric.' He did one of those fancy bows to. Well he was bowing, I turned and began to walk away.”
“I take it he didn't leave you alone?”
“Not at all, he followed me and said, 'Now that you have my name, may I have yours?' 'Blithe' I responded. He wasn't satisfied. He followed me around and pestered me to give him my name. I wouldn't bugde. I think he was just about to give up when Thomas came running after me. He was on his way home from work and yelled, “Miss Miller!” Evander smiled and then said, 'Miss Miller! Now