‘Is Lord Auckland married?’ ‘No.’ ‘What! Has he no wives at all?’ ‘None.’ ‘Why doesn’t he marry?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Why don’t you marry?’ ‘I can’t afford it.’ ‘Why not? Are English wives very expensive?’ ‘Yes; very.’ ‘I wanted one myself some time ago and wrote to the government about it, but they did not send me one.’
