The general.  It would become you better, Alfred, to send that silly girl back to her husband and her duty than to talk clever and mock at your religion.  “What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.”  Remember that.

The bishop.  Dont be afraid, Boxer.  What God hath joined together no man ever shall put asunder:  God will take care of that. [To Leo] By the way, who was it that joined you and Reginald, my dear?

Leo.  It was that awful little curate that afterwards drank, and travelled first class with a third-class ticket, and then tried to go on the stage.  But they wouldnt have him.  He called himself Egerton Fotheringay.

The bishop.  Well, whom Egerton Fotheringay hath joined, let Sir Gorell Barnes put asunder by all means.

The general.  I may be a silly soldier man; but I call this blasphemy.

The bishop [gravely] Better for me to take the name of Mr Egerton Fotheringay in earnest than for you to take a higher name in vain.

Lesbia.  Cant you three brothers ever meet without quarrelling?

The bishop [mildly] This is not quarrelling, Lesbia:  it’s only English family life.  Good morning.

Leo.  You know, Bishop, it’s very dear of you to take my part; but I’m not sure that I’m not a little shocked.

The bishop.  Then I think Ive been a little more successful than
Boxer in getting you into a proper frame of mind.

The general [snorting] Ha!

Leo.  Not a bit; for now I’m going to shock you worse than ever. 
I think Solomon was an old beast.

The bishop.  Precisely what you ought to think of him, my dear. 
Dont apologize.

The general [more shocked] Well, but hang it!  Solomon was in the
Bible.  And, after all, Solomon was Solomon.

Leo.  And I stick to it:  I still want to have a lot of interesting men to know quite intimately—­to say everything I think of to them, and have them say everything they think of to me.

The bishop.  So you shall, my dear, if you are lucky.  But you know you neednt marry them all.  Think of all the buttons you would have to sew on.  Besides, nothing is more dreadful than a husband who keeps telling you everything he thinks, and always wants to know what you think.

Leo [struck by this] Well, thats very true of Rejjy:  In fact, thats why I had to divorce him.

The bishop [condoling] Yes:  he repeats himself dreadfully, doesnt he?

Reginald.  Look here, Alfred.  If I have my faults, let her find them out for herself without your help.

The bishop.  She has found them all out already, Reginald.

Leo [a little huffily] After all, there are worse men than Reginald.  I daresay he’s not so clever as you; but still he’s not such a fool as you seem to think him!