HECTOR [gravely, coming to him]. My friend, the Shotover sisters have two strange powers over men. They can make them love; and they can make them cry. Thank your stars that you are not married to one of them. LADY UTTERWORD [haughtily]. And pray, Hector-- HECTOR [suddenly catching her round the shoulders: swinging her right round him and away from Randall: and gripping her throat with the other hand]. Ariadne, if you attempt to start on me, I'll choke you: do you hear? The cat-and-mouse game with the other sex is a good game; but I can play your head off at it. [He throws her, not at all gently, into the big chair, and proceeds, less fiercely but firmly]. It is true that Napoleon said that woman is the occupation of the idle man. But he added that she is the relaxation of the warrior. Well, I am the warrior. So take care. LADY UTTERWORD [not in the least put out, and rather pleased by his violence]. My dear Hector, I have only done what you asked me to do. HECTOR. How do you make that out, pray? LADY UTTERWORD. You called me in to manage Randall, didn't you? You said you couldn't manage him yourself. HECTOR. Well, what if I did? I did not ask you to drive the man mad. LADY UTTERWORD. He isn't mad. That's the way to manage him. If you were a mother, you'd understand. HECTOR. Mother! What are you up to now? LADY UTTERWORD. It's quite simple. When the children got nerves and were naughty, I smacked them just enough to give them a good cry and a healthy nervous shock. They went to sleep and were quite good afterwards. Well, I can't smack Randall: he is too big; so when he gets nerves and is naughty, I just rag him till he cries. He will be all right now. Look: he is half asleep already [which is quite true]. RANDALL [waking up indignantly]. I'm not. You are most cruel, Ariadne. [Sentimentally]. But I suppose I must forgive you, as usual [he checks himself in the act of yawning]. LADY UTTERWORD [to Hector]. Is the explanation satisfactory, dread warrior? HECTOR. Some day I shall kill you, if you go too far. I thought you were a fool. LADY UTTERWORD [laughing]. Everybody does, at first. But I am not such a fool as I look. [She rises complacently]. Now, Randall, go to bed. You will be a good boy in the morning. RANDALL [only very faintly rebellious]. I'll go to bed when I like. It isn't ten yet. LADY UTTERWORD. It is long past ten. See that he goes to bed at once, Hector. [She goes into the garden]. HECTOR. Is there any slavery on earth viler than this slavery of men to women? RANDALL [rising resolutely]. I'll not speak to her tomorrow. I'll not speak to her for another week. I'll give her such a lesson. I'll go straight to bed without bidding her good-night. [He makes for the door leading to the hall].