Prof. Suffered?
Dolly. Yes, poor dear! You don't know what an awful struggle she has gone through between this unfortunate flirtation and her admiration for you.
Prof. Her admiration for me!
Dolly. Yes! She always speaks of you as her great protagonist of science.
Prof. [Mollified.] Does she? Does she?
Dolly. Yes. If I were you I should go upstairs, and be very sweet to her, and above all don't reproach her. We women can endure anything except reproaches——
Prof. [Looking at his proofs.] I must publish my book. And after all, as you say, it is useless to blame them for acting according to the——
Matt. The dictates of their gray matter when, bless them, they can't help themselves. My dear Professor, instead of condemning your wife you ought to be condoling with her, and doing all you can to get her gray matter into a healthy condition.
Prof. I will hear what she has to say.
Dolly. No. Go straight to her and forgive her, and then I'm sure her gray matter will soon be all right. And what a triumph that will be for you!