LADY JOHN. Well, I think it's very handsome of you, after what she said to-day about men. (_Shakes hands._) TRENT. I've no great opinion of most men myself. I might add--or of most women. LADY JOHN. Oh! Well, at any rate I shall go away relieved to think that Miss Levering's plain speaking hasn't alienated _all_ masculine regard. TRENT. Why should it? LADY JOHN. That's right, Mr. Trent! Don't believe all she says in the heat of propaganda. TRENT. I do believe all she says. But I'm not cast down. LADY JOHN (_smiling_). Not when she says---- TRENT (_interrupting_). Was there never a mysogynist of my sex who ended by deciding to make an exception? LADY JOHN (_smiling significantly_). Oh, if _that's_ what you build on! TRENT. Well, why shouldn't a man-hater on your side prove equally open to reason? MISS L. That part of the question doesn't concern me. I've come to a place where I realise that the first battles of this new campaign must be fought by women alone. The only effective help men could give--amendment of the law--they refuse. The rest is nothing. LADY JOHN. Don't be ungrateful, Vida. Here's Mr. Trent ready to face criticism in publicly championing you. MISS L. It's an illusion that I as an individual need Mr. Trent. I am quite safe in the crowd. Please don't wait for me, and don't come for me again. TRENT (_flushes_). Of course if you'd rather---- MISS L. And that reminds me. I was asked to thank you and to tell you, too, that they--the women of the Union--they won't need your chairmanship any more--though that, I beg you to believe, has nothing to do with any feeling of mine. TRENT (_hurt_). Of course, I know there must be other men ready--better known men---- MISS L. It isn't that. It's simply that they find a man can't keep a rowdy meeting in order as well as a woman. (_He stares._) LADY JOHN. You aren't serious? MISS L. (_to_ TRENT). Haven't you noticed that all their worst disturbances come when men are in charge? TRENT. Well--a--(_laughs a little ruefully as he moves to the door_) I hadn't connected the two ideas. Goodbye. MISS L. Goodbye. (JEAN _takes him downstairs, right centre._) LADY JOHN (_as_ TRENT _disappears_). That nice boy's in love with you. (MISS LEVERING _simply looks at her._) LADY JOHN. Goodbye. (_They shake hands._) I wish you hadn't been so unkind to that nice boy! MISS L. Do you? LADY JOHN. Yes, for then I would be more certain of your telling Geoffrey Stonor that intelligent women don't nurse their wrongs and lie in wait to punish them. MISS L. You are _not_ certain? LADY JOHN (_goes close up to_ VIDA). Are you?