We should invent. What has a woman ever invented since the
beginning of the world? Well, you can easily rail us out of
marriage. How will you live then?
Mrs. Tremaine.
As we are trying to live now.
Denham.
I believe woman's great ambition is to do all the work of the world,
and maintain man in idleness.
Mrs. Tremaine.
That would be awful! You would all be artists and minor poets then.
Denham.
You, I believe, prefer "the Free Union," as it is called, to
marriage?
Mrs. Tremaine.
If it were practicable.
Denham.
Ah yes! We can't live innocently and comfortably in "open sin,"
until the kingdom of heaven comes.
Mrs. Tremaine.
(_laughing_) No, I fear there are still difficulties. But, after
all, one can do--well, almost anything; if one does it from
conscientious motives--and knows one's way about.
Denham.
Yes. And how charming the relationship might be made! Women would
really study the art of keeping a lover. But what, in Heaven's name,
is the sympathetic modern man to do, who feels that to love one of
these creatures of a finer clay, in his rough masculine fashion, is
to "insult," or "enslave," or injure her, in one way or another? "I
love you, therefore God forbid I should marry you!"--that is the
newest gospel.
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