marriages, as people call them!

OSWALD. I have never noticed anything particularly irregular about
the life these people lead.

MANDERS. But how is it possible that a--a young man or young woman
with any decency of feeling can endure to live in that way?--in the
eyes of all the world!

OSWALD. What are they to do? A poor young artist--a poor girl--
marriage costs a great deal. What are they to do?

MANDERS. What are they to do? Let me tell you, Mr. Alving, what they
ought to do. They ought to exercise self-restraint from the first;
that is what they ought to do.

OSWALD. That doctrine will scarcely go down with warm-blooded young
people who love each other.

MRS. ALVING. No, scarcely!

MANDERS. [Continuing.] How can the authorities tolerate such things!
Allow them to go on in the light of day! [Confronting MRS. ALVING.]
Had I not cause to be deeply concerned about your son? In circles
where open immorality prevails, and has even a sort of recognised
position--!

OSWALD. Let me tell you, sir, that I have been in the habit of
spending nearly all my Sundays in one or two such irregular homes--