[He sits and stares moodily out to sea.  His companions whisper each other.

Valentine.  Here, Francis!  Look you yonder.  O but this, This is the joke of the world!

Francis. 
     Hallo! a girl! 
And, by the Lord, Katrina!—­But why here?

Valentine.  She’s followed him, of course; she’s heard of this Mad escapade and followed after him.

Francis.  She has not seen us yet.  Now what to do?

Valentine.  Quick!  Where’s your handkerchief?  Truss his wrists and ankles, And pull his coat up over his head and leave him!  He won’t get free of her again; she’ll lead His wildness home and keep him tame for ever.  Now!

     [They fall on him, bind him, and blindfold him.

Sylvan.  What are you doing?  Whatever are you doing?  Hell burn you, let me go!

Valentine. 
     There’s worse to come.

     [They make off, and leave SYLVAN shouting. 
     KATRINA runs in.

Katrina.  Dear Heaven!  Were they robbers?  Have they hurt you?

     [She releases him.  He stands up.

Sylvan.  Katrina!

Katrina. 
     Sylvan!

Sylvan. 
     How did you plot this? 
I thought I’d put leagues between you and me.

Katrina.  Why have you come here?

Sylvan. 
     To find you, it seems. 
But what you’re doing here, that I’ld like to know.

Katrina.  I came to see my grandmother:  she lives All by herself, poor grannam, and it’s time She had some help about the house, and care.

Sylvan.  Let’s have a better tale.  You followed me.

Katrina.  Sylvan, how dare you make me out so vile?

Sylvan.  How dare you mean to make this body of mine A thing with no thought in it but your beauty?

Katrina.  You shall not speak so wickedly.  You’ve had The half of my truth only:  here’s the whole.  It was from you I fled!  I hoped to make My grannam’s lonely cottage something safe From you and what I hated in you.

Sylvan. 
     Love?—­
Ah, so it’s all useless.

Katrina. 
     I feared to know
You wanted me,—­horribly I feared it. 
And now you’ve found me out.

Sylvan. 
     Is this the truth?—­
No help for it, then.

Katrina. 
     O, I’m a liar to you!

Sylvan. 
Strange how we grudge to be ruled! rather than be
Divinely driven to happiness, we push back
And fiercely try for wilful misery.—­
Dearest, forgive me being cruel to you,
You who are in life like a heavenly dream
In the evil sleep of a sinner.

Katrina. 
     No, you hate me.

Sylvan (kissing her).  Is this like hatred?