Myfamily，myworks，myfuture！Howdaredye！
　　CHLOE。Ifyou'dbeenme！——
　　HORNBLOWER。An'theseHillcrists。Theskingameofit！
　　CHLOE。[Breathless]Father！
　　HORNBLOWER。Don'tcallmethat，woman！
　　CHLOE。[Desperate]I'mgoingtohaveachild。
　　HORNBLOWER。God！Yeare！
　　CHLOE。Yourgrandchild。Forthesakeofit，dowhatthesepeoplewant；anddon'ttellanyone——DON'TTELLCHARLIE！
　　HORNBLOWER。[Againwipinghisforehead]Asecretbetweenus。I
　　don'tknowthatIcankeepit。It'shorrible。PoorChearlie！
　　CHLOE。[Suddenlyfierce]Youmustkeepit，youshall！Iwon'thavehimtold。Don'tmakemedesperate！Icanbe——Ididn'tlivethatlifefornothing。
　　HORNBLOWER。[Staringatherresealedinanewlight]Ay；yelookastrange，wildwoman，asIseeye。Andwethoughttheworldofye！
　　CHLOE。IloveCharlie；I'mfaithfultohim。Ican'tlivewithouthim。You'llneverforgiveme，Iknow；butCharlie——！[Stretchingoutherhands。]
　　[HORNBLOWERmakesabewilderedgesturewith-hislargehands。]
　　HORNBLOWER。I'mallatseahere。Goouttothecarandwaitforme。
　　[CHLOEpasseshimandgoesout，Left。]
　　[Mutteringtohimself]SoI'mdown！Meenemiesputtheirheelsuponmehead！Ah！butwe'llseeyet！
　　[HegoesuptothewindowandbeckonstowardstheRight。]
　　[MRS。HILLCRISTcomesin。]
　　Whatd'yewantforthissecret？
　　MRS。H。Nothing。
　　HORNBLOWER。Indeed！Wonderful！——thetroubleye'vetakenfor——
　　nothing。
　　MRS。H。Ifyouharmusweshallharmyou。AnyusewhateveroftheCentry。
　　HORNBLOWER。Forwhichyemademepayninethousandfivehundredpounds。
　　MRS。H。Wewillbuyitfromyou。
　　HORNBLOWER。Atwhatprice？
　　MRS。H。TheCentryatthepriceMissMuffinswouldhavetakenatfirst，andLongmeadowatthepriceyou——gaveus——fourthousandfivehundredaltogether。
　　HORNBLOWER。Afineprice，andmesixthousandoutofpocket。Na，no！I'llkeepitandholditoverye。Yedaren'ttellthissecretsolongasI'vegotit。
　　MRS。H。No，Mr。Hornblower。Onsecondthoughts，youmustsell。
　　YoubrokeyourwordovertheJackmans。Wecan'ttrustyou。Wewouldratherhaveourplacehereruinedatonce，thanleaveyouthepowertoruinitasandwhenyoulike。YouwillsellustheCentryandLongmeadownow，oryouknowwhatwillhappen。
　　HORNBLOWER。[Writhing]I'llnot。It'sblackmail。
　　MRS。H。Verywellthen！Goyourownwayandwe'llgoours。Thereisnowitnesstothisconversation。
　　HORNBLOWER。[Venomously]Byheaven，ye'reacleverwoman。WillyeswearbyAlmightyGodthatyouandyourfamily，andthatagentofyours，won'tbreatheawordofthisshockin'thingtomortalsoul。
　　MRS。H。Yes，ifyousell。
　　HORNBLOWER。Where'sDawker？
　　MRS。H。[Goingtothedoor，Right]Mr。Dawker[DAWKERcomesin。]
　　HORNBLOWER。Isupposeye'vegotyouriniquityready。
　　[DAWKERgrinsandproducesthedocument。]
　　It'smightynearconspiracy，this。HaveyegotaTestament？
　　MRS。H。Mywordwillbeenough，Mr。Hornblower。
　　HORNBLOWER。Ye'llpardonme——Ican'tmakeitsolemnenoughforyou。
　　MRS。H。Verywell；hereisaBible。
　　[ShetakesasmallBiblefromthebookshelf。]
　　DAWKER。[Spreadingdocumentonbureau]ThisisashortconveyanceoftheCentryandLongmeadow——recitessaletoyoubyMissMulling，ofthefirst，JohnHillcristofthesecond，andwhereasyouhaveagreedforthesaletosaidJohnHillcrist，forthesumoffourthousandfivehundredpounds，inconsiderationofthesaidsum，receiptwhereof，youherebyacknowledgeyoudoconveyallthat，etc。
　　Signhere。I'llwitness。
　　HORNBLOWER[ToMRS。HILLCRIST]TakethatBookinyourhand，andswearfirst。IswearbyAlmightyGodnevertobreatheawordofwhatIknow。concerningChloeHornblowertoanylivingsoul。
　　MRS。H。No，Mr。Hornblower；youwillpleasesignfirst。Wearenotinthehabitofbreakingourword。
　　[HORNBLOWERafterafuriouslookatthem，seizesapen，runshiseyeagainoverthedeed，andsigns，DAWKERwitnessing。]
　　Tothatoath，Mr。Hornblower，weshalladdthewords，"SolongastheHornblowerfamilydousnoharm。
　　HORNBLOWER。[Withasnarl]Takeitinyourhands，bothofye，andtogetherswear。
　　MRS。H。[TakingtheBook]IswearthatIwillbreathenowordofwhatIknowconcerningChloeHornblowertoanylivingsoul，solongastheHornblowerfamilydousnoharm。
　　DAWKER。Iswearthattoo。
　　MRS。H。Iengageformyhusband。
　　HORNBLOWER。Wherearethosetwofellows？
　　DAWKER。Gone。It'snobusinessoftheirs。
　　HORNBLOWER。It'snobusinessofanyofyewhathashappenedtoawomaninthepast。Yeknowthat。Good-day！
　　[Hegivesthemadeadlylook，andgoesout，left，followedbyDAWKER。]
　　MRS。H。[WithherhandontheDeed]Safe！
　　[HILLCRISTentersattheFrenchwindow，followedbyJILL。]
　　[HoldinguptheDeed]Look！He'sjustgone！Itoldyouitwasonlynecessarytousethethreat。Hecavedinandsignedthis；wearesworntosaynothing。We'vebeatenhim。
　　[HILLCRISTstudiestheDeed。]
　　JILL。[Awed]WesawChloeinthecar。Howdidshetakeit，mother？
　　MRS。H。Denied，thenbrokedownwhenshesawourwitnesses。I'mgladyouwerenothere，Jack。
　　JILL。[Suddenly]Ishallgoandseeher。
　　MRS。H。Jill，youwillnot；youdon'tknowwhatshe'sdone。
　　JILL。Ishall。Shemustbeinanawfulstate。
　　HILLCRIST。Mydear，youcandohernogood。
　　JILL。IthinkIcan，Dodo。
　　MRS。H。Youdon'tunderstandhumannature。We'reenemiesforlifewiththosepeople。You'realittledonkeyifyouthinkanythingelse。
　　JILL。I'mgoing，allthesame。
　　MRS。H。Jack，forbidher。
　　HILLCRIST。[Liftinganeyebrow]Jill，bereasonable。
　　JILL。SupposeI'dtakenaknocklikethat，Dodo，I'dbegladoffriendlinessfromsomeone。
　　MRS。H。Younevercouldtakeaknocklikethat。
　　JILL。Youdon'tknowwhatyoucandotillyoutry，mother。
　　HILLCRIST。Lethergo，Amy。Imsorryforthatyoungwoman。
　　MRS。H。You'dbesorryforamanwhopickedyourpocket，Ibelieve。
　　HILLCRIST。Icertainlyshould！Deucedlittlehe'dgetoutofit，whenI'vepaidfortheCentry。
　　MRS。H。[Bitterly]MuchgratitudeIgetforsavingyoubothourhome！
　　JILL。[Disarmed]Oh！Mother，wearegrateful。Dodo，showyourgratitude。
　　HILLCRIST。Well，mydear，it'sanintenserelief。I'mnotgoodatshowingmyfeelings，asyouknow。Whatd'youwantmetodo？Standononelegandcrow？
　　JILL。Yes，Dodo，yes！Mother，holdhimwhileI[Suddenlyshestops，andallthefungoesoutofher]No！Ican't——Ican'thelpthinkingofher。
　　CURTAINfallsforaminute。
　　SCENEII
　　Whenitrisesagain，theroomisemptyanddark，sameformoonlightcominginthroughtheFrenchwindow，whichisopen。
　　ThefigureofCHLOE，inablackcloak，appearsoutsideinthemoonlight；shepeersin，movespast，comesbank，hesitatinglyenters。Thecloak，fallenback，revealsawhiteeveningdress；
　　andthatmagpiefigurestandspoisedwatchfullyinthedimlight，thenflapsunhappilyLeftandRight，asifshecouldnotkeepstill。Suddenlyshestandslistening。
　　ROLF'SVOICE。[Outside]Chloe！Chloe！
　　[Heappears]
　　CHLOE。[Goingtothewindow]Whatareyoudoinghere？
　　ROLF。Whatareyou？Ionlyfollowedyou。
　　CHLOE。Goaway。
　　ROLF。What'sthematter？Tellme！
　　CHLOE。Goaway，anddon'tsayanything。Oh！Theroses！[Shehasputhernoseintosomerosesinabowlonabigstandclosetothewindow]Don'ttheysmelllovely？
　　ROLF。WhatdidJillwantthisafternoon？
　　CHLOE。I'lltellyounothing。Goaway！
　　ROLF。Idon'tlikeleavingyouhereinthisstate。
　　CHLOE。Whatstate？I'mallright。Waitformedowninthedrive，ifyouwantto。
　　[ROLFstartstogo，stops，looksather，anddoesgo。CHLOE，withalittlemoaningsound，fluttersagain，magpie-like，upanddown，thenstandsbythewindowlistening。Voicesareheard，Left。ShedartsoutofthewindowandawaytotheRight，asHILLCRISTandJILLcomein。Theyhaveturneduptheelectriclight，andcomedowninfrondofthefireplace，whereHILLCRISTsitsinanarmchair，andJILLonthearmofit。Theyareinundresseveningadore。
　　HILLCRIST。Now，tellme。
　　JILL。Thereisn'tmuch，Dodo。IwasinanawfulfunkforfearI
　　shouldmeetanyoftheothers，andofcourseIdidmeetRolf，butI
　　toldhimsomelie，andhetookmetoherroom-boudoir，theycallit——isn'tboudoira"dug-out"word？
　　HILLCRIST。[Meditatively]Thesulkingroom。Well？
　　JILL。Shewassittinglikethis。[Sheburiesherchininherhands，wideherelbowsonherknees]Andshesaidinasortoffierceway:"Whatdoyouwant？"AndIsaid:"I'mawfullysorry，butIthoughtyoumightlikeit。"
　　HILLCRIST。Well？
　　JILL。Shelookedatmehard，andsaid:"Isupposeyouknowallaboutit。"AndISaid:"Onlyvaguely，"becauseofcourseIdon't。
　　Andshesaid:"Well，itwasdecentofyoutocome。"Dodo，shelookslikealostsoul。Whathasshedone？
　　HILLCRIST。ShecommittedherrealcrimewhenshemarriedyoungHornblowerwithouttellinghim。Shecameoutofacertainworldtodoit。
　　JILL。Oh！[Staringinfrontofher）Isitveryawfulinthatworld，Dodo？
　　HILLCRIST。[Uneasy]Idon'tknow，Jill。Somecanstandit，I
　　suppose；somecan't。Idon'tknowwhichsortsheis。
　　JILL。OnethingI'msureof:she'sawfullyfondofChearlie。
　　HILLCRIST。That'sbad；that'sverybad。
　　JILL。Andshe'sfrightened，horribly。Ithinkshe'sdesperate。
　　HILLCRIST。Womenlikethatareprettytough，Jill；don'tjudgehertoomuchbyyourownfeelings。
　　JILL。No；only——Oh！itwasbeastly；andofcourseIdriedup。
　　HILLCRIST。[Feelingly]H'm！Onealwaysdoes。Butperhapsitwasaswell；you'dhavebeenblunderinginadarkpassage。
　　JILL。Ijustsaid:"FatherandIfeelawfullysorry；ifthere'sanythingwecando——"
　　HILLCRIST。Thatwasrisky，Jill。
　　JILL。（Disconsolately）Ihadtosaysomething。I'mgladIwent，anyway。Ifeelmorehuman。
　　HILLCRIST。Wehadtofightforourhome。IshouldhavefeltlikeatraitorifIhadn't。
　　JILL。I'mnotenjoyinghometonight，Dodo。
　　HILLCRIST。Inevercouldhateproper；it'saconfoundednuisance。
　　JILL。Mother'sfearfully'bucked，andDawker'ssimplyoozingtriumph。Idon'ttrusthim。Dodo；he'stoo——notpugilistic——theotheronewithapug-naceous。
　　HILLCRIST。Heisrather。
　　JILL。I'msurehewouldn'tcaretuppenceifChloecommittedsuicide。
　　HILLCRIST。[Risinguneasily）Nonsense！Nonsense！
　　JILL。Iwonderifmotherwould。
　　HILLCRIST。[Turninghisfacetowardsthewindow]What'sthat？I
　　thoughtIheard——[Louder]——Istheseanybodyoutthere？
　　[Noanswer。JILL，springsupandrunstothewindow。]
　　JILL。You！
　　[ShedivesthroughtotheRight，andreturns，holdingCHLOE'S
　　handanddrawingherforward]
　　Comein！It'sonlyus！[ToHILLCRIST]Dodo！
　　HILLCRIST。[Flustered，butmakingashowofcourtesy]Goodevening！Won'tyousitdown？
　　JILL。Sitdown；you'reallshaky。
　　[ShemakesCHLOEsitdowninthearmchair，outofwhichtheyhaverisen，thenlocksthedoor，andclosingthewindows，drawsthecurtainshastilyoverthem。]
　　HILLCRIST。[Awkwardandexpectant]CanIdoanythingforyou？
　　CHLOE。Icouldn'tbearithe'scomingtoaskyou——
　　HILLCRIST。Who？
　　CHLOE。Myhusband。[Shedrawsinherbreathwithalongshudder，thenseemtoseizehercourageinherhands]I'vegottobequick。
　　Hekeepsonasking——heknowsthere'ssomething。]
　　HILLCRIST。Makeyourmindeasy。Weshan'ttellhim。
　　CHLOE。[Appealing]Oh！that'snotenough。Can'tyoutellhimsomethingtoputhimbacktothinkingit'sallright？I'vedonehimsuchawrong。Ididn'trealisetillafter——Ithoughtmeetinghimwasjustapieceofwonderfulgoodluck，afterwhatI'dbeenthrough。I'mnotsuchabadlot——notreally。
　　[Shestopsfromtheover-quiveringofherlips。JILL，standingbesidethechair，strokeshershoulder。HILLCRISTstandsverystill，painfullybitingatafinger。]
　　Yousee，myfatherwentbankrupt，andIwasinashop——
　　HILLCRIST。[Soothingly，andtopreventdisclosures]Yes，yes；Yes，yes！
　　CHLOE。InevergaveamanawayordidanythingIwasashamedof——atleast——Imean，Ihadtomakemylivinginallsortsofways，andthenImetCharlie。
　　[Againshestoppedfromthequiveringofherlips。]
　　JILL。It'sallright。
　　CHLOE。HethoughtIwasrespectable，andthatwassucharelief，youcan'tthink，so——soIlethim。
　　JILL。Dodo！It'sawfulHILLCRIST。Itis！
　　CHLOE。AndafterImarriedhim，yousee，Ifellinlove。IfIhadbefore，perhapsIwouldn'thavedaredonly，Idon'tknow——youneverknow，doyou？Whenthere'sastrawgoing，youcatchatit。
　　JILL。Ofcourseyoudo。
　　CHLOE。Andnow，yousee，I'mgoingtohaveachild。
　　JILL。[Aghast]Oh！Areyou？
　　HILLCRIST。GoodGod！
　　CHLOE。[Dully]I'vebeenonhotbricksallthismonth，eversincethatdayhere。Iknewitwasinthewind。Whatgetsinthewindnevergetsout。[Sherisesandthrowsoutherarms]Never！Itjustblowshereandthere[Desolately]andthen——blowshome。[Hervoicechangestoresentment]ButI'vepaidforbeingafool——
　　'tisn'tfun，thatsortoflife，Icantellyou。I'mnotashamedandrepentant，andallthat。Ifitwasn'tforhim！I'mafraidhe'llneverforgiveme；it'ssuchadisgraceforhim——andthen，tohavehischild！Beingfondofhim，IfeelitmuchworsethananythingI
　　everfelt，andthat'ssayingagoodbit。Itis。
　　JILL。[Energetically]Lookhere！Hesimplymustn'tfindout。
　　CHLOE。That'sit；butit'sstarted，andhe'sboundtokeeponbecauseheknowsthere'ssomething。Amanisn'tgoingtobesatisfiedwhenthere'ssomethinghesuspectsabouthiswife，Charliewouldn'tnever。He'sclever，andhe'sjealous；andhe'scominghere。
　　[Shestops，andlooksroundwildly，listening。]
　　JILL。Dodo，whatcanwesaytoputhimcleanoffthescent？
　　HILLCRIST。Anything——inreason。
　　CHLOE。[Catchingatthisstraw]Youwill！Yousee，Idon'tknowwhatI'lldo。I'vegotsoft，beinglookedafter——hedoesloveme。
　　Andifhethrowsmeoff，I'llgounder——that'sall。
　　HILLCRIST。Haveyouanysuggestion？
　　CHLOE。[Eagerly]Theonlythingistotellhimsomethingpositive，somethinghe'llbelieve，that'snottoobad——likemyhavingbeenaladyclerkwiththosepeoplewhocamehere，andhavingbeendismissedonsuspicionoftakingmoney。Icouldgethimtobelievethatwasn'ttrue。
　　JILL。Yes；anditisn't——that'ssplendid！You'dbeabletoputsuchconvictionintoit。Don'tyouthinkso，Dodo？
　　HILLCRIST。AnythingIcan。I'mdeeplysorry。
　　CHLOE。Thankyou。Anddon'tsayI'vebeenhere，willyou？He'sverysuspicious。Yousee，heknowsthathisfatherhasre-soldthatlandtoyou；that'swhathecan'tmakeout——that，andmycomingherethismorning；heknowssomething'sbeingkeptfromhim；andhenoticedthatmanwithDawkeryesterday。Andmymaid'sbeenspyingonme。It'sintheair。Heputstwoandtwotogether。ButI'vetoldhimthere'snothingheneedworryabout；nothingthat'strue。
　　HILLCRIST。Whatacoil！
　　CHLOE。I'mveryhonestandcarefulaboutmoney。Sohewon'tbelievethataboutme，andtheoldmanwantstokeepitfromCharlie，Iknow。
　　HILLCRIST。Thatdoesseemthebestwayout。
　　CHLOE。[Withatouchofdefiance]I'matruewifetohim。
　　CHLOE。Ofcourseweknowthat。
　　HILLCRIST。It'sallunspeakablysad。Deception'shorriblyagainstthegrain——but——
　　CHLOE。[Eagerly]WhenIdeceivedhim，I'dhavedeceivedGodHimself——Iwassodesperate。You'veneverbeenrightdowninthemud。Youcan'tunderstandwhatI'vebeenthrough。
　　HILLCRIST。Yes，Yes。IdaresayI'dhavedonethesame。Ishouldbethelasttojudge[CHLOEcovershereyeswithherhands。]
　　There，there！Cheerup！[Heputshishandonherarm。]
　　CHLOE。[Toherself]DarlingDodo！
　　CHLOE。[Starting]There'ssomebodyatthedoor。Imustgo；Imustgo。
　　[Sherunstothewindowandslipsthroughthecurtains。]
　　[Thehandleofthedoorisagainturned。]
　　JILL。[Dismayed]Oh！It'slocked——Iforgot。
　　[Shespringtothedoor，unlocksandopensit，whileHILLCRIST
　　goestothebureauandsitsdown。]
　　It'sallright，Fellows；Iwasonlysayingsomethingratherimportant。
　　FELLOWS。[Cominginasteportwoandclosingthedoorbehindhim]
　　Certainly，Miss。Mr。Charles'Ornblowerisinthehall。Wantstoseeyou，sir，orMrs。Hillcrist。
　　JILL。Whatabore！Canyouseehim，Dodo？
　　HILLCRIST。Er——yes。Isupposeso。Showhiminhere，Fellows。
　　[AsFELLOWSgoesout，JILLrunstothewindow，buthasnotimetodomorethanadjustthecurtainsandspringovertostandbyherfather，beforeCHARLEScomesin。Thoughineveningclothes，heiswhiteariddisheveledforsospruceayoungmean。]
　　CHARLES。Ismywifehere？
　　HILLCRIST。No，sir。
　　CHARLES。Hasshebeen？
　　HILLCRIST。Thismorning，Ibelieve，Jill？
　　JILL。Yes，shecamethismorning。
　　CHARLES。[staringather]Iknowthat——now，Imean？
　　JILL。No。
　　[HILLCRISTshakeshashead。]
　　CHARLES。Tellmewhatwassaidthismorning。
　　HILLCRIST。Iwasnotherethismorning。
　　CHARLES。Don'ttrytoputmeoff。Iknowtoomuch。[ToJILL]
　　You。
　　JILL。ShallI，Dodo？
　　HILLCRIST。No；Iwill。Won'tyousitdown？
　　CHARLES。No。Goon。
　　HILLCRIST。[Moisteninghislips]Itappears，Mr。Hornblower，thatmyagent，Mr。Dawker——
　　[CHARLES，whoisbreathinghard，uttersasoundofanger。]——
　　thatmyagenthappenstoknowafirm，whoinolddaysemployedyourwife。Ishouldgreatlyprefernottosayanymore，especiallyaswedon'tbelievethestory。
　　JILL。No；wedon't。
　　CHARLES。Goon！
　　HILLCRIST。[Gettingup]Come！IfIwereyou，Ishouldrefusetolistentoanythingagainstmywife。
　　CHARLES。Goon，Itellyou。
　　HILLCRIST。Youinsist？Well，theysaytherewassomequestionabouttheaccounts，andyourwifeleftthemunderacloud。AsI
　　toldyou，wedon'tbelieveit。
　　CHARLES。[Passionately]Liars！
　　[Hemakesarushforthedoor。]
　　HILLCRIST。[Starting]Whatdidyousay？
　　JILL。[Catchinghisarm]Dodo！[Sottovoce]Weare，youknow。
　　CHARLES。[Turningbacktothem]Whydoyoutellmethatlie？WhenI'vejusthadthetruthoutofthatlittlescoundrel！Mywife'sbeenhere；sheputyouuptoit。
　　[ThefaceofCHLOEisseentransfixedbetweenthecurtains，partedbyherhands。]
　　She——sheputyouuptoit。Liarthatsheis——alivinglie。Forthreeyearsalivinglie！
　　[HILLCRISTwhosefacealoneisturnedtowardsthecurtains，seesthatlisteningface。Hishandgoesupfromuncontrollableemotion。]
　　Andhasn'tnowtheplucktotellme。I'vedonewithher。Iwon'townachildbysuchawoman。
　　[WithalittlesighingsoundCHLOEdropsthecurtainandvanishes。]
　　HILLCRIST。ForGod'ssake，man，thinkofwhatyou'resaying。She'singreatdistress。
　　CHARLES。AndwhatamI？
　　JILL。Shelovesyou，youknow。
　　CHARLES。Prettylove！ThatscoundrelDawkertoldme——toldme——
　　Horrible！Horrible！
　　HILLCRIST。Ideeplyregretthatourquarrelshouldhavebroughtthisabout。
　　CHARLES。[Withintensebitterness]Yes，you'vesmashedmylife。
　　[Unseenbythem，MRS。HILLCRISThasenteredandstandsbythedoor，Left。]
　　MRS。H。Wouldyouhavewishedtoliveoninignorance？[Theyallturntolookather。]
　　CHARLES。[Withawrithingmovement]Idon'tknow。But——you——youdidit。
　　MRS。H。Youshouldn'thaveattackedus。
　　CHARLES。Whatdidwedotoyou——comparedwiththis？
　　MRS。H。Allyoucould。
　　HILLCRIST。Enough，enough！Whatcanwedotohelpyou？
　　CHARLES。Tellmewheremywifeis。
　　[JILLdrawsthecurtainsapart——thewindowisopen——JILLlooksout。Theywaitinsilence。]
　　JILL。Wedon'tknow。
　　CHARLES。Thenshewashere？
　　HILLCRIST。Yes，sir；andsheheardyou。
　　CHARLES。Allthebetterifshedid。SheknowshowIfeel。
　　HILLCRIST。Braceup；begentlewithher。
　　CHARLES。Gentle？Awomanwho——who——
　　HILLCRIST。Amostunhappycreature。Come！
　　CHARLES。Damnyoursympathy！
　　[Hegoesoutintothemoonlight，passingaway。]
　　JILL。Dodo，weoughttolookforher；I'mawfullyafraid。
　　HILLCRIST。Isawherthere——listening。Withchild！Whoknowswherethingsendwhentheyandbegin？Tothegravelpit，Jill；I'llgotothepond。No，we'llgotogether。[Theygoout。]
　　[MRS。HILLCRISTcomesdowntothefireplace，ringsthebellandstandsthere，thinking。FELLOWSenters。]
　　MRS。H。IwantsomeonetogodowntoMr。Dawker's。
　　FELLOWS。Mr。Dawkerishere，ma'am，waitin'toseeyou。
　　MRS。H。Askhimtocomein。Oh！andFellows，youcantelltheJackmansthattheycangobacktotheircottage。
　　FELLOWS。Verygood，ma'am。[Hegoesout。]
　　[MRS。HILLCRISTsearchesatthebureau，findsandtakesoutthedeed。DAWKERScomesin；hehastheappearanceofamanwhosetemperhasbeenbadlyruffled。]
　　MRS。H。CharlesHornblower——howdidithappen？
　　DAWKER。Hecametome。IsaidIknewnothing。Hewouldn'ttakeit；wentforme，abusedmeuphillanddowndale；saidhekneweverything，andthenhebegantothreatenme。Well，Ilostmytemper，andItoldhim。
　　MRS。H。That'sveryserious，Dawker，afterourpromise。Myhusbandismostupset。
　　DAWKER。[Sullenly]It'snotmyfault，ma'am；heshouldn'thavethreatenedandgoadedmeon。Besides，it'sgotoutthatthere'sascandal；commontalkinthevillage——notthefacts，butquiteenoughtocooktheirgoosehere。They'llhavetogo。Betterhavedonewithit，anyway，thanhaveenemiesatyourdoor。
　　MRS。H。Perhaps；but——Oh！Dawker，takechargeofthis。[Shehandshimthedeed]Thesepeoplearedesperate——and——I'msotsureofmyhusbandwhenhisfeelingsareworkedon。
　　[Thesoundofacarstopping。]
　　DAWKER。[Atthewindow，lookingtotheLeft]Hornblower's，I
　　think。Yes，he'sgettingout。
　　MRS。H。[Bracingherself]You'dbetterwait，then。
　　DAWKER。Hemustn'tgivemeanyofhissauce；I'vehadenough。
　　[ThedoorisopenedandHORNBLOWERenters，pressingsoontheheelsofFELLOWSthattheannouncementofhisnameislost。]
　　HORNBLOWER。Givemethatdeed！Yegotitoutofmebyfalsepretencesandtreachery。Yesworethatnothingshouldbeheardofthis。Why！meownservantsknow。
　　MRS。H。Thathasnothingtodowithus。YoursoncameandwrenchedtheknowledgeoutofMr。DAWKERbyabuseandthreats；thatisall。
　　Youwillkindlybehaveyourselfhere，orIshallaskthatyoubeshownout。
　　HORNBLOWER。Givemethatdeed，Isay！[HesuddenlyturnsonDAWKER]Yelittleruffian，Iseeitinyourpocket。
　　[TheendindeedisprojectingfromDAWKER'Sbreastpocket。]
　　DAWKER。[Seeingred]Now，look'ere，'Ornblower，Istoodadealfromyourson，andI'llstandnomore。
　　HORNBLOWER。[ToMRS。HILLCRIST]I'llruinyourplaceyet！[ToDAWKER]Yegivemethatdeed，orI'llthrottleye。
　　[HeclosesonDAWKER，andmakesasnatchatthedeed。DAWKER，springsathim，andthetwostandswaying，tryingforagripateachother'sthroats。MRS。HILLCRISTtriestocrossandreachthebell，butisshutoffbytheirswayingstruggle。]
　　[SuddenlyROLFappearsinthewindow，lookswildlyatthestruggle，andseizesDAWKER'Shands，whichhavereachedHORNBLOWER'Sthroat。JILL，whoisfollowing，rushesuptohimandclutcheshisarm。]
　　JILL。Rolf！Allofyou！Stop！Look！
　　[DAWKER'Shandrelaxes，andheisswunground。HORNBLOWER
　　staggersandrecovershimself，gaspingforbreath。Allturntothewindow，outsidewhichinthemoonlightHILLCRISTandCHARLESHORNBLOWERhaveCHLOE'Smotionlessbodyintheirarms。]
　　Inthegravelpit。She'sjustbreathing；that'sall。
　　MRS。H。Bringherin。Thebrandy，Jill！
　　HORNBLOWER。No。Takehertothecar。Standback，youngwoman！I
　　wantnohelpfromanyofye。Rolf——Chearlie——takeherup。
　　[Theyliftandbearheraway，Left。JILLfollows。]
　　Hillcrist，ye'vegotmebeatenanddisgracedhereabouts，ye'vedestroyedmyson'smarriedlife，andye'vekilledmygrandchild。
　　I'mnotstayinginthiscursedspot，butifeverIcandoyouoryoursahurt，Iwill。
　　DAWKER。[Muttering]That'sright。Squealandthreaten。Youbeganit。
　　HILLCRIST。Dawker，havethegoodness！Hornblower，inthepresenceofwhatmaybedeath，withallmyheartI'msorry。
　　HORNBLOWER。Yehypocrite！
　　[Hepassesthemwithacertaindignity，andgoesoutatthewindow，followingtohiscar。]
　　[HILLCRISTwhohasstoodforamomentstock-still，goesslowlyforwardandsitsinhisswivelchair。]
　　MRS。H。Dawker，pleasetellFellowstotelephonetoDr。RobinsontogoroundtotheHornblowersatonce。
　　[DAWKER，fingeringthedeed，andwithanoisethatsoundslike"Thecur！"goesout，Left。[Atthefireplace]
　　Jack！Doyoublameme？
　　HILLCRIST。[Motionless]No。
　　MRS。H。OrDawker？He'sdonehisbest。
　　HILLCRIST。No。
　　MRS。H。[Approaching]Whatisit？
　　HILLCRIST。Hypocrite！
　　[JILLcomesrunninginatthewindow。]
　　JILL。Dodo，she'smoved；she'sspoken。Itmaynotbesobad。
　　HILLCRIST。ThankGodforthat！
　　[FELLOWSenters，Left。]
　　FELLOWS。TheJackmans，ma'am。
　　HILLCRIST。Who？What'sthis？
　　[TheJACKMANShaveentered，standingclosetothedoor。]
　　MRS。J。We'resogladwecangoback，sir——ma'am，wejustwantedtothankyou。
　　[Thereisasilence。Theyseethattheyarenotwelcome。]
　　Thankyoukindly，sir。Goodnight，ma'am。
　　[Theyshuffleout。]
　　HILLCRIST。I'dforgottentheirexistence。[Hegetsup]Whatisitthatgetsloosewhenyoubeginafight，andmakesyouwhatyouthinkyou'renot？Whatblindingevil！Beginasyoumay，itendsinthis-
　　skingame！Skingame！
　　JILL。[Rushingtohim]It'snotyou，Dodo；it'snotyou，belovedDodo。
　　HILLCRIST。Itisme。ForIam，orshouldbe，masterinthishouse！
　　MRS。H。Idon'tunderstand。
　　HILLCRIST。Whenwebeganthisfight，wehadcleanhands——aretheyclean'now？What'sgentilityworthifitcan'tstandfire？