HOTCHKISS. No: I am a snob, not a beggar. [He sits down in the General's chair]. COLLINS. We dont seem to be getting on, do we? Miss Edith: you and Mr Sykes had better go off to church and settle the right and wrong of it afterwards. Itll ease your minds, believe me: I speak from experience. You will burn your boats, as one might say. SOAMES. We should never burn our boats. It is death in life. COLLINS. Well, Father, I will say for you that you have views of your own and are not afraid to out with them. But some of us are of a more cheerful disposition. On the Borough Council now, you would be in a minority of one. You must take human nature as it is. SOAMES. Upon what compulsion must I? I'll take divine nature as it is. I'll not hold a candle to the devil. THE BISHOP. Thats a very unchristian way of treating the devil. REGINALD. Well, we dont seem to be getting any further, do we? THE BISHOP. Will you give it up and get married, Edith? EDITH. No. What I propose seems to me quite reasonable. THE BISHOP. And you, Lesbia? LESBIA. Never. MRS BRIDGENORTH. Never is a long word, Lesbia. Dont say it. LESBIA [with a flash of temper] Dont pity me, Alice, please. As I said before, I am an English lady, quite prepared to do without anything I cant have on honorable conditions. SOAMES [after a silence expressive of utter deadlock] I am still awaiting my instructions. REGINALD. Well, we dont seem to be getting along, do we? LEO [out of patience] You said that before, Rejjy. Do not repeat yourself. REGINALD. Oh, bother! [He goes to the garden door and looks out gloomily]. SOAMES [rising with the paper in his hands] Psha! [He tears it in pieces]. So much for the contract! THE VOICE OF THE BEADLE. By your leave there, gentlemen. Make way for the Mayoress. Way for the worshipful the Mayoress, my lords and gentlemen. [He comes in through the tower, in cocked hat and goldbraided overcoat, bearing the borough mace, and posts himself at the entrance]. By your leave, gentlemen, way for the worshipful the Mayoress. COLLINS [moving back towards the wall] Mrs George, my lord.