DR. MASTERSON. My dear niece, I'm afraid you'll have to take some
account of our civilized prejudices. We simply don't say everything
that we think.

OCEANA. [Springing up.] Oh, dear me! I'm so sorry ! I didn't mean to
make you unhappy! I was going to be so good. I was going to try to
conform to everything. Why, just think of it, Aunt Sophronia . . . in
Rio I actually bought a pair of corsets. And I tried to wear them. I .
. . Oceana! Around my waist! Think of it! [She looks for sympathy.] I
couldn't stand them . . . I climbed to the topmast and threw them to
the sharks. But now it seems that you all wear corsets on your minds
and souls. [A pause.] Never mind . . . let's talk about something
else. I'm getting restless. You see . . . I'm not used to being in a
room . . . it seems like a box to me . . . I can hardly breathe. The
air in here is dreadful . . . hadn't any of you noticed? [Silence.
Apparently nobody had.] Would you mind if I opened a window?

MRS. MASTERSON. It is storming outside, Anna.

OCEANA. Yes, but one can exercise and keep warm. just a minute . . .
please. [She flings up a window; a gale blows in.] Ah, feel that!

[MRS. MASTERSON, LETITIA and DR. MASTERSON draw away from the window.]

MRS. MASTERSON. This is simply outrageous!

LETITIA. It is beyond all words!

DR. MASTERSON. My dear, consider . . .