[Blandly.] One's relations have always such an engaging frankness. Like a bad looking-glass, they always represent you with a crooked nose and a cast in your eye.

Lady Mereston.

[To Mereston.] I have certainly a right to know what you mean by all this and what is going to come of it.

Mereston.

I don't know what will come of it.

Fouldes.

The question that excites our curiosity is this: are you going to ask Lady Frederick to marry you?

Mereston.

I refuse to answer that. It seems to me excessively impertinent.

Fouldes.