"Oh, Aunt! how can you be so absurd?"
"I would rather be absurd than unjust, Margaret."
"I don't understand you."
"You understood me very well. Because you see Whitby talking to a pretty woman, is that a reason to condemn him?"
"Talking! He kissed her before my very eyes, in the public street."
"You cannot say that, Margaret. I saw the meeting as plainly as you did."
"How could you? You were inside! Why has he never mentioned her in his letters?"
"Has he ever mentioned anything but business? He would scarcely mention her to George, and you know he has not written to you."
"No, he had something better to do. This is an unprofitable discussion. I am utterly indifferent to Mr. Booth's actions, past, present, and to come, as well as the reasons for them. If you intend to use that basin for something other than a dinner-call, do so. I 'm not hungry, but we might as well get it over with. We have a long drive before us."
"With all my heart, my dear; unless the water is on a par with the other—er—conveniences."