LEONARD. She’s simple. I’m ironical. I can’t get out of the habit.
MARY. I’m stupid and I can only judge by what he does.
LEONARD. Ay, ay. That’s the devil. It’s explanations I’m good at—not doing things.
MARY. But I don’t understand the explanations.
MRS. TIMBRELL. Poor Mary.
MARY. Did you understand him?
MRS. TIMBRELL. He thinks I didn’t. But I’m afraid all this will not interest our friends. We don’t let Mr. Pendleton have a word.
PENDLETON. Oh! don’t mind me, ma’am. I’m all right.
LEONARD. And Mrs. Pendleton’s all right, I’m sure. She’s got her eye on us. Of course, you know, Mrs. Pendleton, that Mary and I are—well—we’re rather on show here. This is a social experiment. Now, why not go deeper into it? Mary’s manners are quite nice. Anybody can see that. The housemaid’s manners are always better than those of the daughter of the house. Now, father, keep quiet. My manners are what they always have been. You see my point is that the question whether we shall behave nicely on pleasant little family occasions isn’t interesting. If you are really interested in Mary and me let’s try to go a little deeper into things.
TIMBRELL. Perfect rubbish!