“So much so,” said Mrs. Thornton, “that it overwhelms one. It is a bright, original idea, and in these days of commonplace is it not creditable? The idea is mine, Sir, and I will match it with your—what?—your Symbolical Nature of the Mosaic Cosmogony.”
“Economy.”
“But Cosmogony is better. Allow me to suggest it by way of a change.”
“It must be so, since you say it; but I have a weakness for the word Economy. It is derived from the Greek—”
“Greek!” exclaimed Mrs. Thornton, raising her hands. “You surely are not going to be so ungenerous as to quote Greek! Am I not a lady? Will you be so base as to take me at a disadvantage in that way?”
“I am thoroughly ashamed of myself, and you may consider that a tacit apology is going on within my mind whenever I see you.”
“You are forgiven,” said Mrs. Thornton.
“I can not conceive how I could have so far forgotten myself. I do not usually speak Greek to ladies. I consider it my duty to make myself agreeable. And you have no idea how agreeable I can make myself, if I try.”
“I? I have no idea? Is it you who say that, and to me?” exclaimed Mrs. Thornton, in that slight melodramatic tone which she had employed thus far, somewhat exaggerated. “After what I told you—of my feelings?”
“I see I shall have to devote all the rest of my life to making apologies.”