Soames.  It lies broad before you.  It is the way to destruction that is narrow and tortuous.  Marriage is an abomination which the Church has founded to cast out and replace by the communion of saints.  I learnt that from every marriage settlement I drew up as a solicitor no less than from inspired revelation.  You have set yourselves here to put your sin before you in black and white; and you cant agree upon or endure one article of it.

Sykes.  It’s certainly rather odd that the whole thing seems to fall to pieces the moment you touch it.

The bishop.  You see, when you give the devil fair play he loses his case.  He has not been able to produce even the first clause of a working agreement; so I’m afraid we cant wait for him any longer.

Lesbia.  Then the community will have to do without my children.

Edith.  And Cecil will have to do without me.

Leo [getting off the chest] And I positively will not marry Sinjon if he is not clever enough to make some provision for my looking after Rejjy. [She leaves Hotchkiss, and goes back to her chair at the end of the table behind Mrs Bridgenorth].

Mrs Bridgenorth.  And the world will come to an end with this generation, I suppose.

Collins.  Cant nothing be done, my lord?

The bishop.  You can make divorce reasonable and decent:  that is all.

Lesbia.  Thank you for nothing.  If you will only make marriage reasonable and decent, you can do as you like about divorce.  I have not stated my deepest objection to marriage; and I dont intend to.  There are certain rights I will not give any person over me.

Reginald.  Well, I think it jolly hard that a man should support his wife for years, and lose the chance of getting a really good wife, and then have her refuse to be a wife to him.

Lesbia.  I’m not going to discuss it with you, Rejjy.  If your sense of personal honor doesnt make you understand, nothing will.

Soames [implacably] I’m still awaiting my instructions.

They look at one another, each waiting for one of the others to suggest something.  Silence.

Reginald [blankly] I suppose, after all, marriage is better than —­well, than the usual alternative.

Soames [turning fiercely on him] What right have you to say so?  You know that the sins that are wasting and maddening this unhappy nation are those committed in wedlock.

Collins.  Well, the single ones cant afford to indulge their affections the same as married people.

Soames.  Away with it all, I say.  You have your Master’s commandments.  Obey them.