Collins.  Well, my lord, you see people do persist in talking as if marriages was all of one sort.  But theres almost as many different sorts of marriages as theres different sorts of people.  Theres the young things that marry for love, not knowing what theyre doing, and the old things that marry for money and comfort and companionship.  Theres the people that marry for children.  Theres the people that dont intend to have children and that arnt fit to have them.  Theres the people that marry because theyre so much run after by the other sex that they have to put a stop to it somehow.  Theres the people that want to try a new experience, and the people that want to have done with experiences.  How are you to please them all?  Why, youll want half a dozen different sorts of contract.

The bishop.  Well, if so, let us draw them all up.  Let us face it.

Reginald.  Why should we be held together whether we like it or not?  Thats the question thats at the bottom of it all.

Mrs Bridgenorth.  Because of the children, Rejjy.

Collins.  But even then, maam, why should we be held together when thats all over—­when the girls are married and the boys out in the world and in business for themselves?  When thats done with, the real work of the marriage is done with.  If the two like to stay together, let them stay together.  But if not, let them part, as old people in the workhouses do.  Theyve had enough of one another.  Theyve found one another out.  Why should they be tied together to sit there grudging and hating and spiting one another like so many do?  Put it twenty years from the birth of the youngest child.

Soames.  How if there be no children?

Collins.  Let em take one another on liking.

Mrs Bridgenorth.  Collins!

Leo.  You wicked old man—­

The bishop [remonstrating] My dear, my dear!

Lesbia.  And what is a woman to live on, pray, when she is no longer liked, as you call it?

Soames [with sardonic formality] It is proposed that the term of the agreement be twenty years from the birth of the youngest child when there are children.  Any amendment?

Leo.  I protest.  It must be for life.  It would not be a marriage at all if it were not for life.

Soames.  Mrs Reginald Bridgenorth proposes life.  Any seconder?

Leo.  Dont be soulless, Anthony.

Lesbia.  I have a very important amendment.  If there are any children, the man must be cleared completely out of the house for two years on each occasion.  At such times he is superfluous, importunate, and ridiculous.

Collins.  But where is he to go, miss?

Lesbia.  He can go where he likes as long as he does not bother the mother.

Reginald.  And is she to be left lonely—­