I’ve yet to find a husband who was perfect.

[suprunp]

‘[Harding's wife:] [...] Unlike most Italian husbands he’s absolutely faithful to her and he’s kindness itself.’ She [Harding's wife] looked at Harding with a sort of humorous grimness. ‘I’ve yet to find a husband who was perfect.’
‘You’d better start looking around pretty soon, dear, or it’ll be too late,’ he retorted with a grin.
(W.S. Maugham; A Woman of Fifty)

What is the reason for using 'was' here instead of 'is'?

Thanks.

 

[AlVal]

‘[Harding's wife:] [...] Unlike most Italian husbands he’s absolutely faithful to her and he’s kindness itself.’ She [Harding's wife] looked at Harding with a sort of humorous grimness. ‘I’ve yet to find a husband who was perfect.’
‘You’d better start looking around pretty soon, dear, or it’ll be too late,’ he retorted with a grin.
(W.S. Maugham; A Woman of Fifty)

What is the reason for using 'was' here instead of 'is'?

Thanks.

It's presumably implying that she's had to _make_ him perfect herself! That, or a mistake!

 

[bhaisahab]

‘[Harding's wife:] [...] Unlike most Italian husbands he’s absolutely faithful to her and he’s kindness itself.’ She [Harding's wife] looked at Harding with a sort of humorous grimness. ‘I’ve yet to find a husband who was perfect.’
‘You’d better start looking around pretty soon, dear, or it’ll be too late,’ he retorted with a grin.
(W.S. Maugham; A Woman of Fifty)

What is the reason for using 'was' here instead of 'is'?

Thanks.

It implies that she has had more than one husband and none of them, including the current one, were perfect.