[ANNE goes out.

OLIVIA.  George, Mr. Pim has got to know.

GEORGE.  I don’t see the necessity.

OLIVIA.  Not even for me?  When a woman suddenly hears that her long-lost husband is restored to her, don’t you think she wants to ask questions?  Where is he living, and how is he looking, and——­

GEORGE (coldly).  Of course, if you are interested in these things—­

OLIVIA.  How can I help being?  Don’t be so silly, George.  We must know what Jacko—­

GEORGE (annoyed).  I wish you wouldn’t call him by that ridiculous name.

OLIVIA.  My husband—­

GEORGE (wincing).  Yes, well—­your husband?

OLIVIA.  Well, we must know his plans—­where we can communicate with him, and so on.

GEORGE.  I have no wish to communicate with him.

OLIVIA.  I’m afraid you’ll have to, dear.

GEORGE.  I don’t see the necessity.

OLIVIA.  Well, you’ll want to—­to apologise to him for living with his wife for so long.  And as I belong to him, he ought to be told where he can—­call for me.

GEORGE (after a struggle).  You put it in a very peculiar way, but I see your-point. (With a shudder) Oh, the horrible publicity of it all!

OLIVIA (going up to him and comforting him).  Poor George.  Dear, don’t think I don’t sympathise with you.  I understand so exactly what you are feeling.  The publicity!  It’s terrible.

GEORGE (miserably).  I want to do what’s right, Olivia.  You believe that?

OLIVIA.  Of course I do.  It’s only that we don’t quite agree as to what is right and what is wrong.

GEORGE.  It isn’t a question of agreeing.  Right is right, and wrong is wrong, all the world over.

OLIVIA (with a sad little smile).  But more particularly in Buckinghamshire, I think.

GEORGE.  If I only considered myself, I should say:  “Let us pack this man Telworthy back to Australia.  He would make no claim.  He would accept money to go away and say nothing about it.”  If I consulted simply my own happiness, Olivia, that is what I should say.  But when I consult—­er——­

OLIVIA (surprised).  Mine?

GEORGE.  My conscience——­

OLIVIA.  Oh!

GEORGE.  Then I can’t do it.  It’s wrong. (He is at the window as he says this.)

OLIVIA (making her first and last appeal).  George, aren’t I worth a little——­

GEORGE (turning round).  H’sh!  Dinah! (Loudly for DINAH’S benefit) Well, then I’ll write to him and—­Ah, Dinah, where’s Aunt Julia?

DINAH (coming in).  We’ve seen the pigs, and now she’s discussing the Art of Landseer with Brian.  I just came to ask——­

OLIVIA.  Dinah, dear, bring Aunt Julia here.  And Brian too.  We have things we want to talk about with you all.

GEORGE (outraged).  Olivia!

DINAH.  Righto.  What fun!

    [Exit DINAH.

GEORGE.  Olivia, you don’t seriously suggest that we should discuss these things with a child like Dinah and a young man like Strange, a mere acquaintance.