"If they were equipped with the necessary knowledge and insight, most certainly," Lord Henry retorted.
"So it comes to this," said Mrs. Tribe, "that our matrimonial system in this country is based upon our parents' lack of the necessary knowledge and insight."
"Precisely!" Lord Henry exclaimed. "Otherwise they would shoulder the responsibility cheerfully."
"Nonsense!" snapped Miss Mallowcoid.
"I agree with you," added Denis, turning a smiling face to the old spinster.
"Why, it's our idea of liberty,—that's what it is!" Miss Mallowcoid averred.
"Yes; the liberty to do and think the wrong thing nine times out of ten," was Lord Henry's comment.
Denis Malster rose and went to the window. "Well, I should like the weather to clear," he said, "so that we could set about doing something a little more interesting than this."
Miss Mallowcoid and Sir Joseph laughed. The open hostility that was growing between Lord Henry and the baronet's secretary enabled them to get many a thrust at the former without so much as grazing their knuckles.
Lord Henry chuckled. "It is curious," he said quietly, "how doing something, nowadays, is always assumed to be more interesting than thinking something."