ARNOLD. [_Astounded._] Me? Thank you very much. Are you under the impression I'm going to sacrifice my career for a whim of yours? ELIZABETH. How will it do that? ARNOLD. My seat's wobbly enough as it is. Do you think I'd be able to hold it if I were in a divorce case? Even if it were a put-up job, as most divorces are nowadays, it would damn me. ELIZABETH. It's rather hard on a woman to be divorced. ARNOLD. [_With sudden suspicion._] What do you mean by that? Are you in love with some one? ELIZABETH. Yes. ARNOLD. Who? ELIZABETH. Teddie Luton. [_He is astonished for a moment, then bursts into a laugh._ ARNOLD. My poor child, how can you be so ridiculous? Why, he hasn't a bob. He's a perfectly commonplace young man. It's so absurd I can't even be angry with you. ELIZABETH. I've fallen desperately in love with him, Arnold. ARNOLD. Well, you'd better fall desperately out. ELIZABETH. He wants to marry me. ARNOLD. I daresay he does. He can go to hell. ELIZABETH. It's no good talking like that. ARNOLD. Is he your lover? ELIZABETH. No, certainly not. ARNOLD. It shows that he's a mean skunk to take advantage of my hospitality to make love to you. ELIZABETH. He's never even kissed me. ARNOLD. I'd try telling that to the horse marines if I were you. ELIZABETH. It's because I wanted to do nothing shabby that I told you straight out how things were. ARNOLD. How long have you been thinking of this? ELIZABETH. I've been in love with Teddie ever since I knew him. ARNOLD. And you never thought of me at all, I suppose. ELIZABETH. Oh, yes, I did. I was miserable. But I can't help myself. I wish I loved you, but I don't. ARNOLD. I recommend you to think very carefully before you do anything foolish. ELIZABETH. I have thought very carefully. ARNOLD. By God! I don't know why I don't give you a sound hiding. I'm not sure if that wouldn't be the best thing to bring you to your senses. ELIZABETH. Oh, Arnold, don't take it like that. ARNOLD. How do you expect me to take it? You come to me quite calmly and say: "I've had enough of you. We've been married three years and I think I'd like to marry somebody else now. Shall I break up your home? What a bore for you! Do you mind my divorcing you? It'll smash up your career, will it? What a pity!" Oh, no, my girl, I may be a fool, but I'm not a damned fool. ELIZABETH. Teddie is leaving here by the first train to-morrow. I warn you that I mean to join him as soon as he can make the necessary arrangements. ARNOLD. Where is he? ELIZABETH. I don't know. I suppose he's in his room. [_ARNOLD goes to the door and calls._ ARNOLD. George! [_For a moment he walks up and down the room impatiently. ELIZABETH watches him. The FOOTMAN comes in._ FOOTMAN. Yes, sir. ARNOLD. Tell Mr. Luton to come here at once. ELIZABETH. Ask Mr. Luton if he wouldn't mind coming here for a moment. FOOTMAN. Very good, madam. [_Exit FOOTMAN._ ELIZABETH. What are you going to say to him? ARNOLD. That's my business.