Lord William: Molly was a buffoon in those days.
Lady Emily: Really, William, you should not betray the secrets of our youth. Ann, who is romantic, believes that Molly was the most tender of lovers.
Lord William: Well, even when you lay your amour propre aside you will admit that Molly was, if possible, far more tender than passionate.
Lady Emily: Fiddlesticks! Molly was never in the least tender, nor for that matter was he in the least passionate either. But he was not more ridiculous than any other young man who adopts an attitude unpropelled by an impulse.
Ann: What was his attitude?
Lady Emily: In the year ’80, to which William is referring, his attitude was one of affection towards myself.
Ann: I am sure that that was quite sincere.
Lady Emily: Perfectly. He liked me in private and loved me in public.
Ann: You mean that he was shy when he was alone with you?