Oh! as to disgrace--she's your Mother, whatever she does; I'd
like to see anybody say anything about her--[viciously]--I'd punch
his head.
JOY. [Gulping her tears.] That does n't help.
DICK. But if she doesn't love your Father----
JOY. But she's married to him!
DICK. [Hastily.] Yes, of course, I know, marriage is awfully
important; but a man understands these things.
[Joy looks at him. Seeing the impression he has made, he tries
again.]
I mean, he understands better than a woman. I've often argued about
moral questions with men up at Oxford.
JOY. [Catching at a straw.] But there's nothing to argue about.
DICK. [Hastily.] Of course, I believe in morals.
[They stare solemnly at each other.]
Some men don't. But I can't help seeing marriage is awfully
important.
JOY. [Solemnly.] It's sacred.
DICK. Yes, I know, but there must be exceptions, Joy.
Joy. [Losing herself a little in the stress of this discussion.]
How can there be exceptions if a thing 's sacred?
DICK. [Earnestly.] All rules have exceptions; that's true, you
know; it's a proverb.
JOY. It can't be true about marriage--how can it when----?
DICK. [With intense earnestness.
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