LORD GORING. How terrible! Really, the thing should be more widely
known!

LADY BASILDON. Basildon is quite as bad; he is as domestic as if he
was a bachelor.

MRS. MARCHMONT. [Pressing LADY BASILDON'S hand.] My poor Olivia!
We have married perfect husbands, and we are well punished for it.

LORD GORING. I should have thought it was the husbands who were
punished.

MRS. MARCHMONT. [Drawing herself up.] Oh, dear no! They are as
happy as possible! And as for trusting us, it is tragic how much
they trust us.

LADY BASILDON. Perfectly tragic!

LORD GORING. Or comic, Lady Basildon?

LADY BASILDON. Certainly not comic, Lord Goring. How unkind of you
to suggest such a thing!

MRS. MARCHMONT. I am afraid Lord Goring is in the camp of the enemy,
as usual. I saw him talking to that Mrs. Cheveley when he came in.

LORD GORING. Handsome woman, Mrs. Cheveley!

LADY BASILDON. [Stiffly.] Please don't praise other women in our
presence. You might wait for us to do that!