A little later Lady Capulet visited Juliet in her room.
“You know that my daughter is no longer a child.” she said to the nurse.
“Well, madam, she’ll be fourteen on the first day of August.” started the woman, “My poor little Susan, peace to her…, and Juliet were of the same age… oh!
I remember it well… it is now eleven years since the earthquake¹⁹, when she was weaned²⁰ … .”
For a moment the nurse was silent, remembering; then she narrated an amusing episode from Juliet’s childhood, often interrupted by hearty bursts of laughter²¹, until both Lady Capulet and Juliet begged her to stop.
“Yes, I have finished, you were the prettiest baby I ever nursed²² and I’ll have my wish if I can live to see you married.” concluded the nurse.
“Marriage is the very topic I came to speak of. Tell me, Juliet, what is your disposition to marriage?” Lady Capulet asked Juliet, and the girl in return said softly²³, “It is an honour that I dream not of.”
“Well, think of marriage then; the valiant Paris has proposed²⁴;
can you love him?” continued the lady. Juliet felt excited. Paris would be at the party; she would have an opportunity to study him before taking a decision.
Maybe she, too, would soon be married!