MINNIE. Is yours the broad view? HORACE. Naturally. MINNIE. How did you acquire this breadth of mind? HORACE. Can hardly say that. Just seems to belong to the masculine intellect. Men see all round a subject. Women don’t. They’re circumscribed. Can’t see over the hedge. MINNIE. Could you teach me to see over the hedge? HORACE. I might be able to a certain extent. MINNIE. Will you begin by explaining your broad view to-night? HORACE. That was quite simple. Aunt Martha wanted me to go because she didn’t want to go herself. The only view she could take. MINNIE. And you? HORACE. Of course my viewpoint was very different. I had already been out in the snow once to get this month’s “Astronomer,” and there wasn’t any reason why I should go out again. There is a discussion about life on Mars this month, which I am following closely. It wouldn’t have done Aunt Martha any good to stop at home and read the article, because, being practically devoid of brains, she wouldn’t have understood a word about it. Then again, women ought to go to dances, which are got up entirely for their benefit. Whereas men hate that kind of frivolity. So it was obviously her duty to go. MINNIE. I see. HORACE. You see, Aunt Martha couldn’t take in all these points because her mind isn’t broad enough to grasp them. The consequence was her view was very narrow and rather selfish. MINNIE. You certainly put it very clearly. HORACE. I am glad you can appreciate my reasoning. MINNIE. Oh, I can. But one thing I see very plainly, and that is that you both are putting yourselves to inconvenience on my account. HORACE. No, dear, I assure you I am not. MINNIE. That’s true. Thank you for reminding me. But I hate to think I should be so much trouble to you both. Of course I know I have no real claim upon you. It isn’t as if I were your very own sister. HORACE. I should think not, indeed. You’re going to be my wife. Just think of that. (_MINNIE goes to him above table L._) MINNIE. Horace, tell me. Do you love me? Really, really love me? Or are you going to marry me because it was your mother’s wish? (_HORACE kisses her hand._) You mustn’t be angry with me. Perhaps I expect too much, but I think I should be happier if you were just a little bit more—ah, more loving in your manner. Oh, Horace, Horace, I don’t want you to marry me out of pity! HORACE. My dear child, don’t be silly! (_Takes her hand._) I do love you! I love you most awfully, but I am not what is called a demonstrative man. Few scientific men are, I fancy. MINNIE. Do you know, I’m almost sorry you are such a scientific man. HORACE. (_MINNIE takes his left hand_) Minnie! MINNIE. Love and science don’t seem to agree. HORACE. Oh, yes, they do. But you don’t understand. I love you in a scientific way. MINNIE. I think I like the old way best. But I suppose I am silly and narrow minded like Aunt Martha. (_Kisses him._) There, we won’t say any more about it. Are you comfortable?