EVERITT

Who the devil’s Annie Pratt?  What’s she got to do with it?

MRS. EVERITT

Ha!  Not faithful even to her!  Or are you trying to lie out of it?  You can’t, because I’ve still got the letter.

EVERITT

What letter?  I’m not going to stand these hysterics any longer!

MRS. EVERITT

You needn’t.  But you’ve got to stand the truth, do you hear me?  I found the letter in your pocket.  We hadn’t been married a year.  I was so happy!  Oh!  Oh!

EVERITT

So was I happy, Oh!  Oh!

MRS. EVERITT

Hypocrite!  “Dearest Charlie:  You said it is I who am your wife really, because it’s I who make you happy.”  Vile cat!

EVERITT

Annie Pratt, Annie Pratt.  I remember her....

MRS. EVERITT

I should think you would!  But any man who will—­

EVERITT

Look here!  I’ve got the whole thing!  You found that letter in my pocket?

MRS. EVERITT

Yes I did.

EVERITT

Well, do you remember my quarrel with Charlie Fisher?

MRS. EVERITT

Yes.  Why?

EVERITT

Because, you poor child, that letter was written to him.

MRS. EVERITT

To him!

EVERITT

Yes, Charlie Fisher.  I found that he was going with Annie Pratt and I had it out with him one day in the barn.  I told him if he didn’t quit his foolishness I’d tell his people.  We nearly came to blows—­he was drinking too much, too—­and I found that letter on the floor afterwards.  I meant to burn it up, but I forgot it.  And you thought I was the Charlie!

MRS. EVERITT

God forgive me!

EVERITT

But why on earth didn’t you come right out with it?

MRS. EVERITT

Oh!  You can’t realize how crushed I felt.  I wanted only to run away, like a wounded animal....  And then I couldn’t bear to quarrel, for the sake of Walter.  So it’s been festering in me all this time.

EVERITT