I remember three men desperately devoted to her, and they all,
one after another, took wives.
CURTISS. That's odd. Now I should have thought that Mrs. Deegie's
influence would have led them to take other men's wives. It ought to
have made them afraid of the judgment of Providence.
ANTHONY. Mrs. Herriott will make Gaddy afraid of something more than
the judgment of Providence, I fancy.
BLAYNE. Supposing things are as you say, he'll be a fool to face her.
He'll sit tight at Simla.
ANTHONY. 'Shouldn't be a bit surprised if he went off to Naini to
explain. He's an unaccountable sort of man, and she's likely to be a
more than unaccountable woman.
DOONE. What makes you take her character away so confidently?
ANTHONY. _Primum tempus_. Gaddy was her first, and a woman doesn't
allow her first man to drop away without expostulation. She justifies
the first transfer of affection to herself by swearing that it is for
ever and ever. Consequently--
BLAYNE. Consequently, we are sitting here till past one o'clock, talking
scandal like a set of Station cats. Anthony, it's all your fault. We
were perfectly respectable till you came in.
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