Féliat. I most heartily approve; but in my days so much wisdom didn't usually come from such fascinating little mouths.
Thérèse. Now how can you blame us when you see that really we think exactly as you do yourself?
Féliat. In my days girls went neither to the Lycée nor to have gymnastic lessons, and they were none the less straight.
Lucienne [reflectively] And yet they grew up into the women of to-day. I get educated and try to keep myself healthy, with exercises and things, because I want to develop morally and physically, and be fit to marry a man a little bit out of the ordinary either in fortune or brains.
Thérèse. You see our whole lives depend upon the man we marry.
Féliat. I seem to have heard that before.
Lucienne. Yes; so've I. But it's none the less true for that.
Thérèse. Isn't it funny that we seem to be saying the most shocking things when we're only repeating what our grandfathers and grandmothers preached to their children?
Lucienne. They were quite right. Love doesn't make happiness by itself. One has to consider the future. We do consider it; in fact we do nothing else but consider it. We want to get the best position for ourselves in the future that we possibly can. We're not giddy little fools, and we're not selfish egotists. We want our children to grow up happy and capable as we've done ourselves. We're really quite reasonable.
Féliat [hardly able to contain himself] You are; indeed you are. It makes one shudder. Excuse me, I'm going to supper.