In her alone I find the true Greek spirit. What were the prevailing characteristics of h.e.l.lenic culture? [_A sudden silence._] Breadth and centrality, blitheness and repose. All these I find in Trixy.

CHORUS.

Little dear!

LADY WARGRAVE.

Somewhat _risquee,_ isn't she?

PERCY.

To the suburban mind.

[_LADY WARGRAVE bows and turns off._

_SERVANT enters, L._

SERVANT.

Signor Labinski has arrived, your ladyship.

[_Exit, L. LADY WARGRAVE speaks to one or two of the Guests, and the company disperse, most of them going off, L., but a few, C., and others into the conservatory. During this general movement, the music off, is heard louder. COLONEL is left with DR. MARY._

COLONEL.

Nonsense, my dear Doctor---- The fact's just this. The modern woman is prostrated by the discovery of her own superiority; and she is now engaged in one of those hopeless enterprises which _we_ have regretfully abandoned. She is endeavouring to understand _herself._ I offer her my respectful sympathy.

[_Bows and sits, C._

DOCTOR [_sits by him_].

The truth amounts to this: the one mitigating circ.u.mstance about the existence of Man is, that he occasionally co-operates in the creation of a Woman.

COLONEL.

His proudest privilege! The mystery to me is, that you ladies haven't found it out before.

_Re-enter ENID, C._

DOCTOR.

Yes, but you shirk the question!

[_COLONEL is fanning himself, helplessly._

ENID [_aside_].

A man in distress! I must help him! [_Advancing sweetly._] What were you saying, Doctor?

[_Sits on the other side of COLONEL._

COLONEL [_aside_].

Bethune! the best of 'em!

DOCTOR.

You know, from your own experience, that marriage is not a necessity.

COLONEL.

No, it's a luxury--an expensive luxury.

ENID.

Oh, surely that depends upon the wife.

DOCTOR.

It is she who has to a.s.sociate with him.

ENID.

And considering what his past has been----

COLONEL.

Suppose it hasn't!

DOCTOR.

But it always has!

ENID.

I should be sorry to think that.

DOCTOR.

Take the Colonel's own case.

COLONEL [_alarmed_].

Doctor!

DOCTOR.

Do you deny that you have had a past?