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.