Would it not be more useful if she knew something of his future? ENID. Women have futures; men have only pasts. DOCTOR [_still in SYLVESTER'S group_]. It stands to reason--pure reason--there ought not to be one law for women and another for men. SYLVESTER. You mean, that they ought both to be for women? DOCTOR. I mean, that the institution of marriage is in urgent need of reconsideration. SYLVESTER. The sooner, the better. DOCTOR. I am glad you think so. SYLVESTER. When the institution of marriage is reconsidered, man will have another chance. [_Exit, R._ LADY WARGRAVE [_who has joined PERCY'S group_]. What do I think of the New Woman? There is no New Woman; she is as old as Molière. [_Stands listening, amused._ CHORUS. Molière! VICTORIA. A pagan! PERCY. A frank pagan. For pure art we must go to Athens. CHORUS. Athens! PERCY. Or the Music Halls. Have you seen Trixy Blinko? CHORUS. Trixy--oh, charming--sweet! PERCY. In her alone I find the true Greek spirit. What were the prevailing characteristics of Hellenic culture? [_A sudden silence._] Breadth and centrality, blitheness and repose. All these I find in Trixy. CHORUS. Little dear! LADY WARGRAVE. Somewhat _risquée,_ isn't she? PERCY. To the suburban mind. [_LADY WARGRAVE bows and turns off._ _SERVANT enters, L._ SERVANT. Signor Labinski has arrived, your ladyship. [_Exit, L. LADY WARGRAVE speaks to one or two of the Guests, and the company disperse, most of them going off, L., but a few, C., and others into the conservatory. During this general movement, the music off, is heard louder. COLONEL is left with DR. MARY._ COLONEL. Nonsense, my dear Doctor---- The fact's just this. The modern woman is prostrated by the discovery of her own superiority; and she is now engaged in one of those hopeless enterprises which _we_ have regretfully abandoned. She is endeavouring to understand _herself._ I offer her my respectful sympathy. [_Bows and sits, C._ DOCTOR [_sits by him_]. The truth amounts to this: the one mitigating circumstance about the existence of Man is, that he occasionally co-operates in the creation of a Woman. COLONEL. His proudest privilege! The mystery to me is, that you ladies haven't found it out before. _Re-enter ENID, C._ DOCTOR. Yes, but you shirk the question! [_COLONEL is fanning himself, helplessly._ ENID [_aside_]. A man in distress! I must help him! [_Advancing sweetly._] What were you saying, Doctor? [_Sits on the other side of COLONEL._ COLONEL [_aside_]. Bethune! the best of 'em! DOCTOR. You know, from your own experience, that marriage is not a necessity. COLONEL. No, it's a luxury--an expensive luxury. ENID. Oh, surely that depends upon the wife. DOCTOR. It is she who has to associate with him. ENID. And considering what his past has been---- COLONEL. Suppose it hasn't! DOCTOR. But it always has! ENID. I should be sorry to think that. DOCTOR. Take the Colonel's own case. COLONEL [_alarmed_].