“Shocked?” Elizabeth laughed scornfully, though she _was_ a bit surprised. “Why on earth should _I_ be shocked? _I_ think people should be free to have all the love affairs they want.” “Do tell me who he is!” Elizabeth blushed slightly and hesitated. “No, I won’t tell you now, but you’ll meet him soon.” “But, Elizabeth, I hope you’re careful? You won’t go and have a baby?” Elizabeth laughed scornfully again. “Have a baby? Of course not! Why ever do you think I’m so silly? George and I talked it—” “Oh! His name’s ‘George’ is it?” “Yes. Did I let that out? Yes, George Winterbourne. Well, we talked it all out, and we’ve got a perfectly good arrangement. George says we’re too young to have children, so why get married; and anyway we’re too poor. If we want children later on, we can always _get_ married. I said I wouldn’t tie myself down with _any_ man—I don’t want anybody else’s name. I told George that if I wanted other lovers I should have them, and if he wanted any one else he was to have her. But, of course, when there’s a relationship as firmly established as ours, one doesn’t _want_ any one else.” Fanny smiled. * * * * * As a matter of fact, Elizabeth had not said anything of the sort, when George drew up his Triumphal Scheme of the Perfect Sex Relationship. She had been rather timid and uncertain at first. But George’s discourses and the books on physiology and psychology and sex which he made her read and her own exultation at being no longer a virgin had sent her spinning in the other direction. She had, in a few months, far outdistanced George in “freedom.” Her argument was rational and quite defensible; indeed it was a corollary to George’s own views, though he hadn’t seen it. Because you were very fond of one person, she argued, that was no reason why you shouldn’t be attracted by others. Monogamy was established to tyrannize women and to make sure offspring were legitimate and to provide for them and the mother. But where women are free and there is no offspring, what on earth is the good of an artificial and forced fidelity? Directly one has to _promise_ fidelity, directly an effort of will is made to “remain faithful,” a false position is set up. The effort of keeping such a promise is the surest assurance that it will be broken sooner or later. On the other hand, while you are in love with some one, well, you’re in love, and you either don’t want any one else, or if you do, you’re probably only too happy to get back speedily to the person you do really care for.