CEDRIC. Well, I _have_ changed my opinion. So let's go.
FLORA. You've changed your opinion? How have you changed your opinion?
CEDRIC. I've sat there all this blessed night thinking it over.
CEDRIC. Yes. Do you suppose I could sleep any more than you could? What do you take me for? The more I thought it over, the more I saw I'd been mistaken. Now--half a minute! I can't honestly blame myself, you know. And so I won't pretend to--especially as we're talking straight. I told you what I felt, right out, and then I offered to give way. I couldn't do anything else. Well, you wouldn't have that. Mind you, I think you were quite right in refusing to let me give way against my better judgment. I admire you for that even more than I did. But I don't give way now against my judgment--I give way with it.
FLORA. But how has your judgment altered? Why?
CEDRIC. I don't know. How _do_ people's judgments alter? I gradually saw the force of what you'd said. _Of course_ a man's marriage must come in front of everything else! _Of course_ the idea of letting any business matter interfere with the honeymoon is monstrous! I cannot imagine how it was I couldn't see that yesterday. The only explanation is that up to yesterday I'd never lived for anything except my job. Force of habit! One has to get a bit used to a new state of affairs. I suppose it was the sudden shock of the news that sent me a bit off the track. Look here, Flora, you don't want me to go on in this strain. You don't want me to grovel. I'm not the grovelling sort ... I was mistaken.
FLORA. (_In a new quiet tone._) Cedric, what happened in your mother's study after I went upstairs last night?
CEDRIC. Nothing whatever. I cleared out instantly afterwards. I've been here ever since, and I haven't spoken to a soul except Charlie. Why?
CEDRIC. But why do you say "Nothing" like that?
FLORA. Cedric, I was just wondering how this conversation of yours really did come about. It occurred to me that perhaps something might have happened--in business----
CEDRIC. (_Nervous._) How--"something"--in business?
FLORA. Something--I don't know--something that would leave you free after all for a full month, so that in being converted you wouldn't have to sacrifice anything at all.