Exactly! Too much work to do! The thing that has crushed the souls and spirits and hearts of women throughout the generations! But we must stop all this. You must stop it. You must speak to the man--to Ryan-- HELEN I speak to Ryan? What shall I say to him? He won’t come to the Ferrer School. LIONEL The Ferrer School must come to him! You must go to him and say: “Ryan, woman is no longer your bond slave! You must have no more babies. You are killing your wife with soul-deadening drudgery. No janitor should have children; no janitor should have a wife. You must put Mrs. Ryan in a model tenement somewhere, and let her lead a normal, intellectual life. Society will care for the children. There are plenty of places where they can go and be studied by scientists and develop, perhaps, into useful members of the community. You will do your work as before, but you must keep Mrs. Ryan away from this drudgery somewhere where she can really live her life.” Will you do this? HELEN Why, yes, I suppose I ought to.... (_She picks up her cloak which has been lying on a chair and puts it on, with_ LIONEL’S _assistance_.) It’s time we started, isn’t it? But wait a minute! Max! MAXWELL (_coming in from the dining room_) Going? I hope you have a good time. HELEN Yes, we’re going, but, Max, I want you to do something for me. You know Ryan better than I do and you can talk to him. Mr. Morris says that he’s been abusing his wife, and he thinks we ought to get him to put her into a model tenement where she can develop her soul. He’s been overworking her and all that sort of thing, so you talk to him about it, will you? Mr. Morris knows a place where she can go, and we can put the children somewhere, and he can go on with his work, and it will be better for everybody. So you talk to him about it, will you? MAXWELL Ryan? Abusing Mrs. Ryan? Good heavens, I had no idea of this. Of course I’ll talk to him about it. I’ll put a stop to that, Nellie. Good-bye. Enjoy yourself. And you talk over that plan of ours with Mr. Morris and decide whether you want a bungalow or an automobile. HELEN _and_ MAXWELL Good-bye. (_They go out._ RYAN _comes in from the dining room_.) RYAN I guess that radiator’ll be all right now, Mr. Johnson. There was a lot of air in the pipe and the valve was rusted tight, so I had a little trouble loosening it up. (_He starts out._) MAXWELL (_frowning and looking at the floor_) Wait a minute, Ryan. I want to talk to you about something. (RYAN _comes toward him and stands waiting_.) Ryan, I hear--don’t you think--er--will you have a cigar? RYAN Why, yes, thanks.