Prof. I am not severe. I simply register the inevitable sentence of the husband upon the wife who misconducts herself!
Dolly. Misconducts herself! She has merely had a little harmless flirtation——
Prof. In my wife a flirtation of this character [pointing to letter in his hand] constitutes grave misconduct.
Dolly. But that's perfectly ridiculous! Why it might happen to any woman! Dad, explain to him——
Matt. Professor, you're taking altogether a wrong view of this. Now this case you were pointing out to me in your own book [pointing to proofs]—Number forty-nine, Mrs. Copway. Remarkably handsome woman too!—[reading] "The injustice and cruelty of condemning this poor lady must be apparent to all." My dear Professor, before publishing this book you'll have to modify your theory.
Prof. I cannot modify my theory. I have spent ten years in collecting facts which prove it.
Matt. Then, pardon me, you must really look over Mrs. Sturgess's little indiscretion.
Prof. That is equally impossible——
Matt. But you say that her action in receiving my nephew's letter was entirely due to the activity of certain atoms in the gray matter of her brain.
Prof. Undoubtedly that is so.