Julia eyed him with a steely disdain.
"Kindly tell me why a woman should trouble herself to make plans to coax her husband?"
"Ask me another. How do I know? She did it, didn't she?"
"Yes, because he was one of those beastly 'hims,' to be toadied and cajoled and fussed into a good humour before his wife dare ask for a carriage for the baby that belongs to both of them."
"Oh, I see! I see! I say, I'm stupid, aren't I?"
"I'll forgive you your stupidity if you promise me never to marry and make any woman miserable."
Rokeby became slightly nettled.
"Why shouldn't I marry and make some woman happy?" he demanded.
"Ask me another; you men don't seem to, do you?"
"You're not very sympathetic to—"