LAURA.  Then you are going to let him know.  You’re not going to give me a single, solitary chance?

WILL.  I’ll give you every chance that you deserve when he knows.  Then he can do as he pleases, but there must be no more deception, that’s flat.

[LAURA crosses and kneels beside WILL’S chair.

LAURA.  Then you must let me tell him—­[WILL turns away impatiently.]—­yes, you must.  If I didn’t tell him before, I’ll do it now.  You must go.  If you ever had any regard for me—­if you ever had any affection—­if you ever had any friendship, please let me do this now.  I want you to go—­you can come back.  Then you’ll see—­you’ll know—­only I want to try to make him understand that—­that maybe if I am weak I’m not vicious.  I want to let him know that I didn’t want to do it, but I couldn’t help it.  Just give me the chance to be as good as I can be. [WILL gives her a look.] Oh, I promise you, I will tell him, and then—­then I don’t care what happens—­only he must learn everything from me—­please—­please—­let me do this—­it’s the last favour I shall ever—­ever ask of you.  Won’t you?

[LAURA breaks down and weeps.

WILL. [Rising, looks at her a moment as if mentally debating the best thing to do.  Crosses in front of table; stands facing her with back to audience.] All right, I won’t be unkind.  I’ll be back early this afternoon, and just remember, this is the time you’ll have to go right through to the end.  Understand?

LAURA.  Yes, I’ll do it,—­all of it.  Won’t you please go—­now?

[Crosses; sits in armchair.

WILL.  All right. [He exits into the bedroom and immediately enters again with overcoat on his arm and hat in hand; he goes centre, and turns.] I am sorry for you, Laura, but remember you’ve got to tell the truth.

LAURA. [Who is sitting in a chair looking straight in front of her with a set expression.] Please go. [WILL exits.

LAURA sits in a chair in a state of almost stupefaction, holding this attitude as long as possible. ANNIE enters, and in a characteristic manner begins her task of tidying up the room; LAURA, without changing her attitude, and staring straight in front of her, her elbows between her knees and her chin on her hands.

LAURA.  Annie!

ANNIE.  Yassum.

LAURA.  Do you remember in the boarding-house—­when we finally packed up—­what you did with everything?

ANNIE.  Yassum.

LAURA.  You remember that I used to keep a pistol?

ANNIE.  Yo’ all mean dat one yo’ say dat gemman out West gave yuh once?

LAURA.  Yes.

ANNIE.  Yassum, Ah ’membuh it.

LAURA.  Where is it now?

ANNIE. [Crosses to writing-desk.] Last Ah saw of it was in dis heah draw’ in de writin’-desk. [This speech takes her across to desk; she opens the drawer, fumbles among a lot of old papers, letters, &c., and finally produces a small thirty-two calibre, and gingerly crosses to LAURA.] Is dis it?