Mereston.
I'm afraid you'll think me dreadfully impertinent.
Lady Mereston.
Really you need not apologise so much, Charlie.
Mereston.
My mother has something to say against you, and I think it right that she should say it in your presence.
Lady Frederick.
That's very nice of you, Charlie—though I confess I prefer people to say horrid things of me only behind my back. Especially if they're true.
Fouldes.
Look here, I think all this is rather nonsense. We've most of us got something in our past history that we don't want raked up, and we'd all better let bygones be bygones.