Pardon me, ladies; but if you are about to consult your physician, you would no doubt prefer to be alone. [_They turn and see her for the first time._ VICTORIA. Pray, don't move. GERALD. My aunt, Lady Wargrave. Colonel Cazenove. DOCTOR. These matters are best discussed openly. A morbid modesty has too long closed our eyes. But the day of awakening has come. Sylvester, in her "Aspirations after a Higher Morality," Bethune, in her "Man, the Betrayer," Vivash, in her "Foolish Virgins," have postulated the sexual problem from every conceivable point of view; and I have myself contributed to the discussion a modest little treatise---- ENID. No, no, not modest! VICTORIA. Profound! DOCTOR. "Naked and Unashamed!" ENID. Man has done all the talking up to now---- VICTORIA. He has had things all his own way---- DOCTOR. And a nice mess he's made of them! ENID. Now it is our turn. VICTORIA. We mean to put things right! DOCTOR. Man has departed. Woman has arrived. LADY WARGRAVE. Excuse my ignorance, but I have been away from England for so many years. Can this be the New Woman I have read about? COLONEL. Everything's New nowadays! We have a New Art---- ENID. A New Journalism---- VICTORIA. A New Political Economy---- DOCTOR. A New Morality---- COLONEL. A New Sex! LADY WARGRAVE [_smiling_]. Ah! DOCTOR. Do you object to modernity? LADY WARGRAVE. I've only one objection to new things; they are so old. VICTORIA. Not the New Woman! LADY WARGRAVE. No; _she_ is generally middle-aged. [_COLONEL turns to GERALD, to hide his chuckles._ ENID. Then, do you take Man's part in the discussion? LADY WARGRAVE. I take no part in it. DOCTOR. Do you deny that Woman has arrived, Man has departed? LADY WARGRAVE. I don't wonder at it. But Man has an awkward habit of coming back again. TRIO. Never! LADY WARGRAVE. Then Woman will go after him. [_COLONEL roars out aloud--the Women survey him with disgust._ _Re-enter WELLS, L., and whispers to GERALD._ GERALD. Tea is quite ready, ladies! ENID. Ah! a cup of tea! [_Exit L., followed by VICTORIA, DOCTOR MARY and WELLS._ LADY WARGRAVE. Theodore, your arm. These ladies interest me. Besides, they sadly want a chaperone. COLONEL. They want a husband--that's what _they_ want, badly! LADY WARGRAVE. Gerald, call Margery. [_GERALD goes to door R._] Well, they are looking for one. [_Glancing after GERALD._ COLONEL. And they've found _you,_ Caroline. [_Exeunt both, laughing, L. Each time the door, L., is opened, a babel of female voices is heard from within, and such phrases as "Peter Robinson's," "Swan and Edgar's," "Stagg and Mantle's," are distinctly audible above the clink of teacups, etc._ _Re-enter MARGERY, R.; she goes straight to LADY WARGRAVE'S chair, and is about to carry the cushion into the room, L., when GERALD, who has stood back, watching her, advances._ GERALD. Margery! [_MARGERY drops the cushion and turns._] Thank you! God bless you! MARGERY.