E. Sadder yet, I no longer care when a younger and a fairer girl “cuts me out,” to put it boldly. I think I shall, you know, but I don’t. I sigh—but I forget them—both!
H. This shows a callousness really alarming. You might at least reserve the guiltier party for future punishment. Perfidy merits at least remembrance. It is sometimes a man’s last hold.
E. (carelessly). A man should risk little on so commonplace a resource—if one wishes to be remembered, one should be unusual. Besides, you would imply that the man is the guiltier party?
H. Only as far as his lights are taken into consideration, of course. Man is a poor creature at his best—in comparison.
E. And sometimes a comparatively innocent one. To find another woman more attractive is blamable, but to be a more attractive woman ought to be unpardonable.
H. “To err is human—fiendish to outshine.” I understand. (With marked politeness.) Permit me to suggest that it is rarely——
E. (laughing). But I have said I have lost my capacity for feeling thrusts of this kind. (In a lower tone.) At least, I believed that I had.
H. (dryly). I was always a little unfortunate in my attempts to make amends—always too late, perhaps.
E. (meeting his eyes). Yes, making amends was never your forte.