Lord William: She was dashing—damned expensive too. I will say that for her. Now you could ruin a young man without costing him a penny.
Ann: In fact you are recommending me as an economy.
Lord William: I’m sorry, my dear. For a moment sordid financial considerations arose in my mind with the memory of Annette. We were all so affected by Ouida in those days. It never occurred to us to do anything simply.
Ann: And now I suppose you think that we none of us do anything well?
Lord William: A little slipshod, a little casual, I find you. And your young men are so lacking in persistence that your young women can’t afford any subtlety. If men go about taking no for an answer they can’t expect to get “no” said to them, and there is nothing like affirmatives for taking the savour out of an affair.
Thompson: Lady Emily Cathcart, my lady.
[Enter Lady Emily Cathcart. She kisses Ann.
Lord William: Emily, do you recollect that year when Molly was first attentive to you?
Lady Emily: Very clearly.