MRS. P. By the way, the captain _is_ here: came by the same train as
we did: and we all know how she's angled for him.
EDWIN. I don't though, I'm sure.
MRS. P. You don't know how Miss Darlington has angled after Captain
Plunger? Why, where ever have you been this five years? It's the talk
of the whole regiment. So that there was some reason for your
exclamation, though not much; for any one at all acquainted with the
parties would be quite sure Captain Plunger wouldn't run away with
Ethel Darlington.
EDWIN. Why not?
MRS. P. Oh! Captain Plunger is a man of taste. He couldn't possibly
put up with any girl of that sort.
EDWIN. What sort?
MRS. P. Why, the sort of girl who is so very indiscriminate in the
attention she receives. He has too great a scorn for such a character.
EDWIN. And yet I think at the Artillery Ball I saw him putting up with
Ethel Darlington to the extent of half-a-dozen dances in succession.
He contrives to hide his scorn uncommonly.
MRS. P. He would do. Captain Plunger is a perfect gentleman. He'd
flirt with her, no doubt.
EDWIN. I've seen him.
MRS. P. He might even get engaged to her.
EDWIN. Indeed!
MRS. P. But he would never marry such a girl.
EDWIN. Although he'd get engaged to her?
MRS. P. Oh dear, no! Captain Plunger is a man of fine morality.
EDWIN. I always thought he was that sort of man.