ad that. [_Giving the_ PROFESSOR _the book and
pointing out passage._] Surely after that you cannot condemn Mrs.
Sturgess.

_Prof._ [_Taking book, glancing at the passage._] Really, it's most
annoying when one's own wife upsets----

_Matt._ Oh! they're always making hay of our theories one way or the
other.

_Prof._ Of course, if one presses the matter home to first
principles----

_Dolly._ Yes! Yes! Well, why not act on your own first principles! You
ought to be very sorry for poor Renie, considering all she has suffered.

_Prof._ Suffered?

_Dolly._ Yes, poor dear! You don't know what an awful struggle she has
gone through between this unfortunate flirtation and her admiration for
you.

_Prof._ Her admiration for me!

_Dolly._ Yes! She always speaks of you as her great protagonist of
science.

_Prof._ [_Mollified._] Does she? Does she?

_Dolly._ Yes. If I were you I should go upstairs, and be very sweet to
her, and above all don't reproach her. We women can endure anything
except reproaches----

_Prof._ [_Looking at his proofs._] I must publish my book. And after
all, as you say, it is useless to blame them for acting according to
the----

_Matt._ The dictates of their gray matter when, bless them, they can't
help themselves. My dear Professor, instead of condemning your wife you
ought to be condoling with her, and doing all you can to get her gray
matter into a healthy condition.

_Prof._ I will hear what she has to say.

_Dolly._ No. Go straight to her and forgive her, and then I'm sure her
gray matter will soon be all right. And what a triumph that will be for
you!

_Prof._ It does offer a way out of the difficulty. In any case I must
publish my book. [_Exit._

_Dolly._ Dad, I won't have her here next Christmas.

_Matt._ No, my dear, I wouldn't.

_Dolly._ That wretched Lucas!

_Matt._ What is to be done with him?

_Dolly._ Pack him off! Pack him off at once!

[LUCAS _cautiously looks in from upper conservatory door._

_Lucas._ I say, how's the old bird seem to take it?

_Dolly._ Old bird!

_Lucas._ He isn't going to make a shindy over a trifle like this?

_Dolly._ Trifle! He's threatening to divorce her and expose you!

_Lucas._ You don't say so. I'm awfully sorry!

_Dolly._ Sorry!

_Lucas._ I am, indeed! And any reparation I can make----

_Dolly._ Reparation?!

_Lucas._ Such as an apology----

[DOLLY _utters a contemptuous exclamation._

_Matt._ Will you