ELLIE. I don't see why we shouldn't get on very well together. MANGAN. Well, but look here, you know--[he stops, quite at a loss]. ELLIE. [patiently]. Well? MANGAN. Well, I thought you were rather particular about people's characters. ELLIE. If we women were particular about men's characters, we should never get married at all, Mr Mangan. MANGAN. A child like you talking of "we women"! What next! You're not in earnest? ELLIE. Yes, I am. Aren't you? MANGAN. You mean to hold me to it? ELLIE. Do you wish to back out of it? MANGAN. Oh, no. Not exactly back out of it. ELLIE. Well? He has nothing to say. With a long whispered whistle, he drops into the wicker chair and stares before him like a beggared gambler. But a cunning look soon comes into his face. He leans over towards her on his right elbow, and speaks in a low steady voice. MANGAN. Suppose I told you I was in love with another woman! ELLIE [echoing him]. Suppose I told you I was in love with another man! MANGAN [bouncing angrily out of his chair]. I'm not joking. ELLIE. Who told you I was? MANGAN. I tell you I'm serious. You're too young to be serious; but you'll have to believe me. I want to be near your friend Mrs Hushabye. I'm in love with her. Now the murder's out. ELLIE. I want to be near your friend Mr Hushabye. I'm in love with him. [She rises and adds with a frank air] Now we are in one another's confidence, we shall be real friends. Thank you for telling me. MANGAN [almost beside himself]. Do you think I'll be made a convenience of like this? ELLIE. Come, Mr Mangan! you made a business convenience of my father. Well, a woman's business is marriage. Why shouldn't I make a domestic convenience of you? MANGAN. Because I don't choose, see? Because I'm not a silly gull like your father. That's why. ELLIE [with serene contempt]. You are not good enough to clean my father's boots, Mr Mangan; and I am paying you a great compliment in condescending to make a convenience of you, as you call it. Of course you are free to throw over our engagement if you like; but, if you do, you'll never enter Hesione's house again: I will take care of that. MANGAN [gasping]. You little devil, you've done me. [On the point of collapsing into the big chair again he recovers himself]. Wait a bit, though: you're not so cute as you think. You can't beat Boss Mangan as easy as that. Suppose I go straight to Mrs Hushabye and tell her that you're in love with her husband. ELLIE. She knows it. MANGAN. You told her!!! ELLIE. She told me. MANGAN [clutching at his bursting temples]. Oh, this is a crazy house. Or else I'm going clean off my chump. Is she making a swop with you--she to have your husband and you to have hers? ELLIE. Well, you don't want us both, do you?