"You young fellows are led astray by your own importance, and soon begin to regard yourselves as paternal achievements rather than maternal miscalculations."
A roar followed this sally of the elder Irishman, but the younger was not to be so quickly defeated.
"And you old boys," said he, "make another mistake. You regard yourselves as attractions long after you have become ornaments."
"Personalities are to be avoided," returned Sheridan good-humoredly. "We were talking of marriage."
"Don't mention it," retorted Moore politely. "It is a queer thing at best. Before a wedding a woman has a husband to look forward to."
"And when married?"
"Faith, Sherry, a husband to look after."
"Imagine it, Brummell."
"Fortunately, your Highness, there are some limits to my imagination," replied the Beau.
"Sentimentally but not sartorially speaking," observed Sheridan, scrutinizing the exquisite's lace cravat through his eye-glass. "'T is well to remember that imagination is the thief of truth."