Sykes.  Oh, that!

Reginald.  You call that work?

Edith.  Dont you?  Leo used to do it for nothing; so no doubt you thought it wasnt work at all.  Does your present housekeeper do it for nothing?

Reginald.  But it will be part of your duty as a wife.

Edith.  Not under this contract.  I’ll not have it so.  If I’m to keep the house, I shall expect Cecil to pay me at least as well as he would pay a hired housekeeper.  I’ll not go begging to him every time I want a new dress or a cab fare, as so many women have to do.

Sykes.  You know very well I would grudge you nothing, Edie.

Edith.  Then dont grudge me my self-respect and independence.  I insist on it in fairness to you, Cecil, because in this way there will be a fund belonging solely to me; and if Slattox takes an action against you for anything I say, you can pay the damages and stop the interest out of my salary.

Soames.  You forget that under this contract he will not be liable, because you will not be his wife in law.

Edith.  Nonsense!  Of course I shall be his wife.

Collins [his curiosity roused] Is Slattox taking an action against you, miss?  Slattox is on the Council with me.  Could I settle it?

Edith.  He has not taken an action; but Cecil says he will.

Collins.  What for, miss, if I may ask?

Edith.  Slattox is a liar and a thief; and it is my duty to expose him.

Collins.  You surprise me, miss.  Of course Slattox is in a manner of speaking a liar.  If I may say so without offence, we’re all liars, if it was only to spare one another’s feelings.  But I shouldnt call Slattox a thief.  He’s not all that he should be, perhaps; but he pays his way.

Edith.  If that is only your nice way of saying that Slattox is entirely unfit to have two hundred girls in his power as absolute slaves, then I shall say that too about him at the very next public meeting I address.  He steals their wages under pretence of fining them.  He steals their food under pretence of buying it for them.  He lies when he denies having done it.  And he does other things, as you evidently know, Collins.  Therefore I give you notice that I shall expose him before all England without the least regard to the consequences to myself.

Sykes.  Or to me?

Edith.  I take equal risks.  Suppose you felt it to be your duty to shoot Slattox, what would become of me and the children?  I’m sure I dont want anybody to be shot:  not even Slattox; but if the public never will take any notice of even the most crying evil until somebody is shot, what are people to do but shoot somebody?

Soames [inexorably] I’m waiting for my instructions as to the term of the agreement.

Reginald [impatiently, leaving the hearth and going behind Soames] It’s no good talking all over the shop like this.  We shall be here all day.  I propose that the agreement holds good until the parties are divorced.