Lady Flo: Well, I'm in the deepest distress about the two young people. They seem to be at terrible loggerheads. Now, perhaps Jem confided the secret of his unhappy married life to you?
Sir W.: He never said a word about it! (Bites his lip.)
Lady Flo: Nevertheless, I assure you they lead a cat-and-dog existence.
Sir W.: Oh, dear, dear! Is that so?
Lady Flo: Why, of course! You saw them quarrelling yourself. But still I have hopes we may be able to arrange matters a little better for them. Who knows but what we may see them re-united before we leave this house?
Sir W.: We will do our best to help them, poor young things!
Lady Flo: Yes! Poor young things!
Sir W.: And I've no doubt we shall succeed.
Lady Flo: At the same time, it seems to me as if the abyss between them may widen.
Sir W.: That may be so. The abyss may widen! (Indicates an imaginary abyss, at which Lady Flo shakes her head).