OLLIVANT. Were there any?
MARY. Oh, I see. So Ben carefully picked out only those which would please you.
OLLIVANT. [Sarcastically.] Please me?
MARY. Yes; because you and he didn't want me to succeed; because you thought failure would bring me home. But don't you think I'll let some cub reporter settle things for me. I'll never come home through failure—never.
OLLIVANT. [Kindly.] Ben and I only want to protect you, Mary.
MARY. Why do men always want to protect women?
OLLIVANT. Because we know the world.
MARY. Yes; but you don't know me. Father, you still think I'm only a foolish, stage-struck girl, and want flowers and men and my name in big letters. It isn't that.
OLLIVANT. Well, what is it, then?
MARY. Oh—I want to be an artist. I don't suppose you can understand it; I didn't, myself, at first. I was born with it, but didn't know what it was till that first time you took me to the theatre.