MRS. L. All I can do is to give the bride and bridegroom my blessing, and go back by the next train to London!
WOOD. And to Larkings! By-the-bye, how is your Christopher? I hope your Christopher is still the same fond, indulgent Christopher you’ve always found your Christopher.
MRS. L. (enthusiastically) He’s a darling! we are happy as the day is long! and no wonder—we married for love; our tastes, our opinions are the same, and what is still more important, we are nearly the same age—Christopher is twenty-four; I am twenty-two! now between you and Caroline the gap is much wider.
WOOD. The what?
MRS. L. The gap! she is under twenty, while you are—how old shall we say? (smiling)
WOOD. (very quietly) Thirty-nine!
MRS. L. Oh, that’s the age you’ve decided on, eh? well, if you wish it, we’ll say thirty-nine! (smiling again) I’d better tell Christopher in case he might let the cat out of the bag! (smiling)
WOOD. (aside) Pleasant creature! very! (aloud) Yes, Mrs. Larkings—and at thirty-nine I think it time for a man to marry.
MRS. L. Then why didn’t you? (smiling)