LAURA.  Yes.

WILL.  But you didn’t know he was coming until this arrived?

LAURA.  No.

WILL.  And you didn’t mail the letter [Tossing telegram on table], did you?

LAURA.  No.

WILL.  What did you do with it?

LAURA.  I—­I burned it.

WILL.  Why?

[LAURA is completely overcome and unable to answer.

WILL.  Why?

LAURA.  I—­I couldn’t help it—­I simply couldn’t help it.

WILL.  So you’ve been corresponding all this time.

LAURA.  Yes.

WILL.  And he doesn’t know [With a gesture around the room, indicating the condition in which they live.] about us?

LAURA.  No.

WILL. [Taking a step towards her.] By God, I never beat a woman in my life, but I feel as though I could wring your neck.

LAURA.  Why don’t you?  You’ve done everything else.  Why don’t you?

WILL.  Don’t you know that I gave Madison my word that if you came back to me I’d let him know?  Don’t you know that I like that young fellow, and I wanted to protect him, and did everything I could to help him?  And do you know what you’ve done to me?  You’ve made me out a liar—­you’ve made me lie to a man—­a man—­you understand.  What are you going to do now?  Tell me—­what are you going to do now?  Don’t stand there as if you’ve lost your voice—­how are you going to square me?

LAURA.  I’m not thinking about squaring you.  What am I going to do for him?

WILL.  Not what you are going to do for him—­what am I going to do for him.  Why, I couldn’t have that young fellow think that I tricked him into this thing for you or all the rest of the women of your kind on earth.  God!  I might have known that you, and the others like you, couldn’t be square. [The girl looks at him dumbly.  He glances at his watch, walks up stage, looks out of the window, comes down again, goes to the table, and looks at her across it.] You’ve made a nice mess of it, haven’t you?

LAURA. [Weakly.] There isn’t any mess.  Please go away.  He’ll be here soon.  Please let me see him—­please do that.

WILL.  No, I’ll wait.  This time I’m going to tell him myself, and I don’t care how tough it is.

LAURA. [Immediately regaining all her vitality.] No, you mustn’t do that. [Crossing back of table to centre.] Oh, Will, I’m not offering any excuse.  I’m not saying anything, but I’m telling you the truth.  I couldn’t give him up—­I couldn’t do it.  I love him.

WILL.  Huh. [Grins; crosses to front of sofa.

LAURA.  Don’t you think so?  I know you can’t see what I see, but I do.  And why can’t you go away?  Why can’t you leave me this?  It’s all I ever had.  He doesn’t know.  No one will ever tell him.  I’ll take him away.  It’s the best for him—­it’s the best for me.  Please go.

WILL.  Why—­do you think that I’m going to let you trip him the way you tripped me? [Crosses and sits in armchair.] No.  I’m going to stay right here until that young man arrives, and I’m going to tell him that it wasn’t my fault.  You were to blame.