CULVER.  Indeed I’m not.

MRS. CULVER.  Yes, you are.  Mr. Tranto advised you to give way, and you think such a lot of his opinion.

CULVER.  Who told you Tranto advised me to give way?

MRS. CULVER.  He did.

CULVER.  Damn him!

MRS. CULVER (soothingly).  Yes, yes.

CULVER.  No, no!

MRS. CULVER.  And your dear, indispensable Miss Starkey thinks the same. (She tries to kiss him.) CULVER.  No, no! (Mrs. Culver succeeds in kissing him.)

Enter Miss Starkey.

(The other two spring apart.  A short pause.)

CULVER.  Which is the refusal?

MISS STARKEY.  This one.

CULVER.  Put it in the fire. (Miss Starkey obeys.  Both the women show satisfaction in their different ways.) Give me the acceptance. (He takes the letter of acceptance and reads it.)

MRS. CULVER (while he is reading the letter).  Miss Starkey, you look very pale.  Have you had any dinner?

MISS STARKEY.  Not yet, madam.

MRS. CULVER.  You poor dear! (She strokes Miss Starkey. They both look at the tyrannical male.) I’ll order something for you at once.

MISS STARKEY.  I shall have to go to the post first.

CULVER (glancing up).  I’ll go to the post myself.  I must have air, air!  Where’s the envelope? (Exit Miss Starkey quickly, back.) (Mrs. Culver gently takes the letter from her husband and reads it.  Culver drops into a chair.)

MRS. CULVER (putting down the letter).  Darling!

CULVER.  I thought I was a brute?

MRS. CULVER (caressing and kissing him).  I do so love my brute, and I am so happy.  Darling!  But you are a silly old darling, wasting all this time.

CULVER.  Wasting all what time?

MRS. CULVER.  Why, the moment I came in again I could see you’d decided to give way. (With a gesture of delight.) I must run and tell the children. (Exit, L.)

Enter Miss Starkey back.

MISS STARKEY.  Here’s the envelope.

CULVER (taking it).  Tell them to get me my hat and overcoat.

MISS STARKEY.  Yes, Sir Arthur. (Culver starts.) (Exit Miss Starkey, back.)

CULVER (as he puts the letter in the envelope; with an air of discovery).  I suppose I do like being called ‘Sir Arthur.’

Enter Hildegard and John both disgusted, back.

JOHN (to Hildegarde, as they come in).  I told you last night he couldn’t control even the mater.  However, I’ll be even with her yet.

CULVER.  What do you mean, boy?

JOHN.  I mean I’ll be even with the mater yet.  You’ll see.

HILDEGARDE.  Papa, you’ve behaved basely.  Basely!  What an example to us! 
I intend to leave this house and live alone.