Soames looks puzzled.

Mrs George.  You dont mind, Dad, do you? [As this greeting visibly gives him a shock that hardly bears out the Bishop’s advice, she says anxiously] That was what you told me to call him, wasnt it?

Soames.  I am called Father Anthony, Mrs Collins.  But it does not matter what you call me. [He comes in, and walks past her to the hearth].

The bishop.  Mrs Collins has something to say to me that she wants you to hear.

Soames.  I am listening.

The bishop [going back to his seat next her] Now.

Mrs George.  My lord:  you should never have married.

Soames.  This woman is inspired.  Listen to her, my lord.

The bishop [taken aback by the directness of the attack] I married because I was so much in love with Alice that all the difficulties and doubts and dangers of marriage seemed to me the merest moonshine.

Mrs George.  Yes:  it’s mean to let poor things in for so much while theyre in that state.  Would you marry now that you know better if you were a widower?

The bishop.  I’m old now.  It wouldnt matter.

Mrs George.  But would you if it did matter?

The bishop.  I think I should marry again lest anyone should imagine I had found marriage unhappy with Alice.

Soames [sternly] Are you fonder of your wife than of your salvation?

The bishop.  Oh, very much.  When you meet a man who is very particular about his salvation, look out for a woman who is very particular about her character; and marry them to one another:  theyll make a perfect pair.  I advise you to fall in love; Anthony.

Soames [with horror] I!!

The bishop.  Yes, you! think of what it would do for you.  For her sake you would come to care unselfishly and diligently for money instead of being selfishly and lazily indifferent to it.  For her sake you would come to care in the same way for preferment.  For her sake you would come to care for your health, your appearance, the good opinion of your fellow creatures, and all the really important things that make men work and strive instead of mooning and nursing their salvation.

Soames.  In one word, for the sake of one deadly sin I should come to care for all the others.

The bishop.  Saint Anthony!  Tempt him, Mrs Collins:  tempt him.

Mrs George [rising and looking strangely before her] Take care, my lord:  you still have the power to make me obey your commands.  And do you, Mr Sexton, beware of an empty heart.

The bishop.  Yes.  Nature abhors a vacuum, Anthony.  I would not dare go about with an empty heart:  why, the first girl I met would fly into it by mere atmospheric pressure.  Alice keeps them out now.  Mrs Collins knows.