They had begun to love at sight, taking each other for granted, worshiping frankly, sweetly, with the candid, innocent informality of barbarians to whom the conventional was the unknown.
After all, why not?
Isn't word of eye as sacred as word of mouth?
Bess returned to them from the hall.
"I say, Bess!" bleated Mr.Fopling anxiously.
"In a moment, child!" returned Bess, in maternal tones.
Mr.Fopling relapsed, while Richard was amused.

Some corner of Richard's amusement must have stuck out to attract the notice of Bess.

She met it finely, undisturbed.
"Some day, Mr.Storms," beamed Bess, as though replying to a question, "I shall talk to you on marriage and husbands." "Why not on marriage and wives ?" "Because I would not speak of the philosopher and the experiment, but of the experiment and the result.

Marriage is a cause; the husband an effect.

Husbands are artificial and made by marriage.