"Perhaps not. But what prevented them marrying?"
"Amanda, not knowing Stephen loved her, had married another man whom she didn't care for."
"I see. There was a husband in the way. Still it would have been wiser for her to have left him and run away with Stephen. It certainly would have been more in the mode."
"Not on the stage. People like to see a play that makes them cry. How they weep over the sorrows of Almeria in Mr. Congreve's 'Mourning Bride!'"
"Yes, so I've heard. I've never seen the play. The title frightens me. I don't like the notion of a mourning bride."
"Not in real life I grant you. But on the stage it's different. I'm sorry you don't care for my tragedy," he went on disappointedly.
"I never said that. How could I when I haven't read a line? That's very unjust of you."
"I humbly crave forgiveness. Nothing was further from my thoughts than to accuse you of being unjust. I ought to have said that you didn't care for tragedies, and if so mine would be included. Pray pardon me."
"How serious! You haven't offended me a bit. After all it isn't what I think of your play that's of any consequence. It's what Mr. Gay thinks and I'll do my best to take it to him."
"You will? Madam, you've made me the happiest of mortals. Let me wrap up my poor attempt at play writing."