IRENE (as if to herself)
I don't care that much for it.
JULIAN
A great, famous one—that means something after all. And your life has brought you many other exquisite experiences—since the one with me. I am sure of it.
IRENE
What have I got left of it? What does it amount to? A woman who has no child has never been a woman. But a woman who once might have had one—who should have had one, and who—(with a glance at him)—has never become a mother, she is nothing but—oh! But that's what a man cannot understand! It is what not one of them can understand! In this respect the very best one of the lot will always remain something of a cad. Is there one of you who knows how many of his own offspring have been set adrift in the world? I know at least that there are none of mine. Can you say as much?
JULIAN
And if I did know....
IRENE
How? Have you got one really?—Oh, speak, please! You can tell me, Julian, can't you? Where is it? How old is it? A boy? Or a girl?