Builder.  You don’t let your women folk do just as they like?

Ralph.  Always.

Builder.  What happens if one of your girls wants to do an improper thing? [Ralph shrugs his shoulders].  You don’t stop her?

Ralph.  Do you?

Builder.  I try to.

Ralph.  Exactly.  And she does it.  I don’t and she doesn’t.

Builder. [With a short laugh] Good Lord!  I suppose you’d have me eat humble pie and tell Athene she can go on living in sin and offending society, and have my blessing to round it off.

Ralph.  I think if you did she’d probably marry him.

Builder.  You’ve never tested your theory, I’ll bet.

Ralph.  Not yet.

Builder.  There you are.

Ralph.  The ‘suaviter in modo’ pays, John.  The times are not what they were.

Builder.  Look here!  I want to get to the bottom of this.  Do you tell me I’m any stricter than nine out of ten men?

Ralph.  Only in practice.

Builder. [Puzzled] How do you mean?

Ralph.  Well, you profess the principles of liberty, but you practise the principles of government.

Builder.  H’m! [Taking up the decanter] Have some?

Ralph.  No, thank you.

     Builder fills and raises his glass.

Camille. [Entering] Madame left her coffee.

     She comes forward, holds out a cup for builder to pour into, takes
     it and goes out.  Builder’s glass remains suspended.  He drinks the
     brandy off as she shuts the door.

Builder.  Life isn’t all roses, Ralph.

Ralph.  Sorry, old man.

Builder.  I sometimes think I try myself too high.  Well, about that
Welsh contract?

Ralph.  Let’s take it.

Builder.  If you’ll attend to it.  Frankly, I’m too upset.

     As they go towards the door into the hall, Maud comes in from the
     dining-room, in hat and coat.

Ralph. [Catching sight of her] Hallo!  All well in your cosmogony, Maud?

Maud.  What is a cosmogony, Uncle?

Ralph.  My dear, I—­I don’t know.

     He goes out, followed by builder.  Maud goes quickly to the table,
     sits down and rests her elbows on it, her chin on her hands, looking
     at the door.

Builder. [Re-entering] Well, Maud!  You’d have won your bet!

Maud.  Oh! father, I—­I’ve got some news for you.

Builder. [Staring at her] News—­what?

Maud.  I’m awfully sorry, but I-I’ve got a job.

Builder.  Now, don’t go saying you’re going in for Art, too, because I won’t have it.