CROSBY.  Wait.  Let me talk to her. (CROSBY comes over to HELEN and sits beside her on the chesterfield, R. side.  WILLIAM is at L. end.) My dear, you understand that none of us believe—­what the Inspector wants us to believe.  We know that you have never done anything—­that you are no more guilty of this atrocious crime than I am.  We all want to help you.  We believe in you and trust you and love you.  You understand that, don’t you?

HELEN.  Yes.

WILLIAM.  I won’t have this.

CROSBY.  I’m afraid you must, Will. (He turns again to HELEN.) We want to help you, so, my dear, you must be perfectly frank with us.  Inspector Donohue says he can prove that you went to that man’s rooms.  Is that true?

HELEN (slowly and reluctantly).  Yes.

(DONOHUE gives a short laugh.  Sits back of table R.)

ROSALIE (R. of chesterfield).  And what if she did?  She had a good errand.  What did you go for, darling?

HELEN.  I can’t tell you.

WILLIAM.  Dear, you must tell us. (She looks at him suddenly.  He comes over and kneels beside her and talks to her as if to a little child.) My dear, it isn’t that we don’t trust you.  Surely you know how we all love you?  But we must know the truth—­because we have to show him how wrong he is.

DONOHUE (seated back of table R.).  Yes, and I’m waiting to be shown.

WILLIAM (kneeling L. of HELEN).  Why did you go to Spencer Lee?

HELEN (sitting on chesterfield).  You mustn’t ask me that.  I can’t tell you.

CROSBY (still on chesterfield).  But if you don’t tell us, how can we help you?

HELEN.  I didn’t do anything, I didn’t do anything.

CROSBY.  We know that, my child.  But why did you go? (HELEN does not answer.) Did you know Spencer Lee?

WILLIAM.  Of course she didn’t.

DONOHUE (seated back of table R.).  Why don’t she speak for herself?

WILLIAM.  Because I’ll speak for her.

CROSBY.  Can’t you answer even that question?

(HELEN shakes her head and makes a despairing gesture.)

WILLIAM.  But, dear, don’t you see what they’ll think?  Helen, you must tell me.

HELEN.  Could I speak to mother, alone? (She rises.)

DONOHUE.  You cannot.

(CROSBY and WILLIAM rise.  CROSBY moves to L. end of chesterfield.)

ROSALIE (R. end of chesterfield).  Where is the ’arm in that?  A child ’as the right to talk to ’er own mother any time she does want.

DONOHUE.  Anything you wish to say you can say in front of me.

ROSALIE (coming to HELEN C.).  Darling, you need not mind the nice Inspector.  I well know that there was never anything in your mind that you could not say before all the world. (There is a pause.) Tell your mother, my darling.