Thérèse. [hurt] Oh, Madame!
Madame Nérisse. [looking closely at her and then taking both her hands affectionately] Forgive me, dear child. I know how good and straight you are. You mustn't mind the things I say. Sometimes I'm horrid I know. I have an idea that Monsieur Nérisse is not as fond of me as he used to be.
Thérèse. Oh, indeed that's only your fancy.
Madame Nérisse. I hope so. I'm a bit nervous I think. I've such a lot of trouble with the paper just now. It's not going well. [Gesture of Thérèse] We're going to try something fresh. This time I think it'll be all right. You'll see it will. [A pause] What's that? Did he call? I'm sure that idiot of a boy hasn't made up his fire, and he'd never think of it. He's like a great baby. [As she goes towards Monsieur Nérisse's door—the door on the left—the door on the right opens, and Mademoiselle Grégoire comes in. She has taken off her hat. Madame Nérisse turns to her] Why, it's Mademoiselle Grégoire! You know, Dr. Grégoire! [To Mademoiselle Grégoire] This is Mademoiselle Thérèse. [They shake hands] I spoke to you about her. She'll explain everything to you in no time. I'll come back very soon and introduce you to the others. Excuse me for a minute. [She goes out to the left]
Thérèse. [pleasantly] I really don't know what Madame Nérisse wants me to explain to you. You know our paper?
Mademoiselle Grégoire. No, I've never seen it.
Thérèse. Never seen it! Never seen Woman Free?
Mademoiselle Grégoire. Never. I only know it by name.
Thérèse. How odd! Well, here's a copy. It's in two parts, you see, and they're quite different from each other. Here the doctrine, there the attractions. Madame Nérisse thought of that.
Mademoiselle Grégoire [reading as she turns over the leaves] "Votes for Women."