_She_ (_interrupting_). Like a burning-glass, I keep cool myself while setting you on fire? Exactly so, and I suppose you would prefer me to be a looking-glass in which you could see only yourself?
_He._ A wife should reflect her husband’s image, and not that of a pack of fools.
_She._ Come, come, Jack, you are not jealous?
_He._ “Jealous!” Of course I am not jealous, but I am very much annoyed.
_She._ I am glad that you are not jealous, for I have always heard that a jealous man has a very poor opinion of himself.--(_Aside._) There’s one for him.
_He._ I am not jealous, but I will probe this thing to the bottom; I must know the truth.
_She_ (_aside_). He _is_ jealous now; and this is real: I am sure it is.
_He._ Go on, tell me more: I must get at the bottom facts. There’s nothing like truth.
_She_ (_aside_). There is nothing like it in what he’s learning.
_He_ (_aside_). This Carey is harmless enough, and he can’t help talking. He’s a--he’s a telescope; you have only to draw him out, and anybody can see through him. I’ll get hold of him, draw him out, and then shut him up! (_Crossing excitedly._)
_She_ (_aside_). How much more his real jealousy moves me than his pretence of it! He seems very much affected: no man could be as jealous as he is unless he was very much in love.
_He_ (_with affected coolness_). You have told me about Tom and Dick; pray, have you nothing to say about Harry?
_She._ Mr. Wylde? (_Enthusiastically._) He is a man after my own heart!
_He._ So he is after it? (_Savagely._) Just let me get after him!
_She_ (_coolly_). Well, if you do not like his attentions, you can take him apart and tell him so.
_He_ (_vindictively_). If I took him apart he’d never get put together again!
_She._ Mr. Wylde is very much afraid of his wife, but when she is not there he is more devoted than either of the others.
_He._ “More devoted!” What else shall I hear, I wonder?
_She._ I told him not to do it. I knew I should blush if he kissed me: I always do.
_He_ (_in great agitation_). You always do? Has this man ever--(_breaking down._) Oh, Jenny! Jenny! you do not know what you are doing. I do not blame you--it is not your fault: it is mine. I did not know how much I loved you, and I find it out now, when it is perhaps too late.