VICAR.  I have no right to judge your father.

[She perceives the evasion.]

MARY.  Not even—­good? . . .

VICAR.  He is what I have made him.  I and no other!

[She stands looking at him piteously.]

AUNTIE.  There is another—­I!  I kept them apart:  I poisoned your uncle against him:  I took you away from him:  It was I who kept you in ignorance of your father!

MARY.  Why? . . .

AUNTIE.  Because he stands in the way of my husband’s happiness!  Because, even, he is your father!  Because I hate him!  I could almost wish him dead!

VICAR.  Martha! . . .

[There is a long pause.]

MARY.  Then I have nobody, now.  It’s no use wishing any more.

AUNTIE.  Mary . . .

MARY.  No! . . .  I want to be alone.

[She goes out into the garden.  They follow her out with their eyes.]

VICAR.  So!  God has revealed His partisanship!—­He has beggared us both!

[AUNTIE considers this for a moment.  Then, with sudden determination, she rises.]

AUNTIE.  I am not going to be beggared without a struggle for it, William!

[She moves briskly across to the bell.]

VICAR.  What are you going to do, Martha?

AUNTIE, [flashing round passionately, before she can ring the bell].  Do you think I am going to stand by and see your life wrecked—­yours and that child’s?

VICAR.  We are not the only persons concerned, Martha.

AUNTIE.  As far as I care, you are!

VICAR.  And what of Robert? . . .

AUNTIE.  Robert!  That’s what I’m going to see to now!

[She rings the bell.]

There’s only one way of dealing with a brute like that!

VICAR.  What’s that?

AUNTIE.  Pack him off to Australia, Africa—­anywhere, so long as we are never pestered with him again!

VICAR, Do you think you’ll get him to go?

AUNTIE.  Oh, I’ll find the money!  A drunkard like that will do anything for money!  Well, he shall have plenty:  perhaps he’ll drink himself to . . .

VICAR.  By Heaven, but I say no!

AUNTIE.  By Heaven, but I say yes!  It’s about time I took things in hand again!  Do you think I’m going to risk that child learning everything?  She knows more than enough already!  Providentially, she does not know the worst!

VICAR.  And what knowledge do you consider Providence has so kindly spared her?

AUNTIE.  The knowledge who that man was!  She shall never know, if I can have my way! [She rings the bell again, impatiently.] Why doesn’t he come?  Why doesn’t he come?

VICAR.  Who?

AUNTIE.  Manson.

[Enter MANSON by the main door.  There is a subtle change in the manner of him, a look in his eye, as of the servant merging in the master.]