AGNES. [Looking at him.] Sham--?
ST. OLPHERTS. Why, of course. All we desired to arrange was that for
the future their household should be conducted strictly a la mode.
AGNES. A la mode?
ST. OLPHERTS. [Behind the settee, looking down upon her.] Mr. Cleeve in
one quarter of the house, Mrs. Cleeve in another.
AGNES. Oh, yes.
ST. OLPHERTS. A proper aspect to the world, combined with freedom on
both sides. It's a more decorous system than the aggressive Free Union
you once advocated; and it's much in vogue at my end of town.
AGNES. Your plan was a little more subtle than I gave you credit for.
This was to be your method of getting rid of me!
ST. OLPHERTS. No, no. Don't you understand? With regard to yourself, we
could have arrived at a compromise.
AGNES. A compromise?
ST. OLPHERTS. It would have made us quite happy to see you placed upon
a--upon a somewhat different footing.
AGNES. What kind of--footing?
ST. OLPHERTS. The suburban villa, the little garden, a couple of
discreet servants--everything a la mode.
[There is a brief pause. The she rises and walks across the room,
outwardly calm but twisting her hands.]
AGNES. Well, you've had Mr. Cleeve's answer to that.
ST. OLPHERTS. Yes.
AGNES. Which finally disposes of the whole matter--disposes of it--
ST.
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