VIVIE.  I am sure that if I had the courage I should spend the rest of my life in telling everybody—­stamping and branding it into them until they all felt their part in its abomination as I feel mine.  There is nothing I despise more than the wicked convention that protects these things by forbidding a woman to mention them.  And yet I can’t tell you.  The two infamous words that describe what my mother is are ringing in my ears and struggling on my tongue; but I can’t utter them:  the shame of them is too horrible for me. [She buries her face in her hands.  The two men, astonished, stare at one another and then at her.  She raises her head again desperately and snatches a sheet of paper and a pen].  Here:  let me draft you a prospectus.

FRANK.  Oh, she’s mad.  Do you hear, Viv? mad.  Come! pull yourself together.

VIVIE.  You shall see. [She writes].  “Paid up capital:  not less than forty thousand pounds standing in the name of Sir George Crofts, Baronet, the chief shareholder.  Premises at Brussels, Ostend, Vienna, and Budapest.  Managing director:  Mrs Warren”; and now don’t let us forget h e r qualifications:  the two words. [She writes the words and pushes the paper to them].  There!  Oh no:  don’t read it:  don’t! [She snatches it back and tears it to pieces; then seizes her head in her hands and hides her face on the table].

[Frank, who has watched the writing over her shoulder, and opened his eyes very widely at it, takes a card from his pocket; scribbles the two words on it; and silently hands it to Praed, who reads it with amazement, and hides it hastily in his pocket.]

FRANK [whispering tenderly] Viv, dear:  thats all right.  I read what you wrote:  so did Praddy.  We understand.  And we remain, as this leaves us at present, yours ever so devotedly.

PRAED. We do indeed, Miss Warren.  I declare you are the most splendidly courageous woman I ever met.

[This sentimental compliment braces Vivie.  She throws it away from her with an impatient shake, and forces herself to stand up, though not without some support from the table.]

FRANK.  Don’t stir, Viv, if you don’t want to.  Take it easy.

VIVIE.  Thank you.  You an always depend on me for two things:  not to cry and not to faint. [She moves a few steps towards the door of the inner room, and stops close to Praed to say] I shall need much more courage than that when I tell my mother that we have come to a parting of the ways.  Now I must go into the next room for a moment to make myself neat again, if you don’t mind.

PRAED. Shall we go away?

VIVIE.  No:  I’ll be back presently.  Only for a moment. [She goes into the other room, Praed opening the door for her].

PRAED. What an amazing revelation!  I’m extremely disappointed in Crofts:  I am indeed.

FRANK.  I’m not in the least.  I feel he’s perfectly accounted for at last.  But what a facer for me, Praddy!  I can’t marry her now.