Who says the following and why?

there's lots of women has to make their husbands drunk to make them fit to live with. you see, it's like this. if a man has a bit of a conscience, it always takes him when he's sober; and then it makes him low-spirited. a drop of booze just takes that off and makes him happy.

a)higgins is defending liza's father.
b)liza is explaining her father's drinking.
c)freddy is trying liza's "small talk."
d)higgins is joking about pickering's drinking.