Jill.  One thing I’m sure of:  she’s awfully fond of Chearlie.

Hillcrist. That’s bad; that’s very bad.

Jill.  And she’s frightened, horribly.  I think she’s desperate.

Hillcrist. Women like that are pretty tough, Jill; don’t judge her too much by your own feelings.

Jill.  No; only——­Oh! it was beastly; and of course I dried up.

Hillcrist. [Feelingly] H’m!  One always does.  But perhaps it was as well; you’d have been blundering in a dark passage.

Jill.  I just said:  “Father and I feel awfully sorry; if there’s anything we can do——­”

Hillcrist. That was risky, Jill.

Jill. (Disconsolately) I had to say something.  I’m glad I went, anyway.  I feel more human.

Hillcrist. We had to fight for our home.  I should have felt like a traitor if I hadn’t.

Jill.  I’m not enjoying home tonight, Dodo.

Hillcrist. I never could hate proper; it’s a confounded nuisance.

Jill.  Mother’s fearfully’ bucked, and Dawker’s simply oozing triumph.  I don’t trust him.  Dodo; he’s too—­not pugilistic—­the other one with a pug-naceous.

Hillcrist. He is rather.

Jill.  I’m sure he wouldn’t care tuppence if Chloe committed suicide.

Hillcrist. [Rising uneasily] Nonsense!  Nonsense!

Jill.  I wonder if mother would.

Hillcrist. [Turning his face towards the window] What’s that?  I thought I heard—­[Louder]—­Is these anybody out there?

     [No answer.  Jill, springs up and runs to the window.]

Jill.  You!

     [She dives through to the Right, and returns, holding Chloe’s
     hand and drawing her forward]

Come in!  It’s only us! [To Hillcrist] Dodo!

Hillcrist. [Flustered, but making a show of courtesy] Good evening!  Won’t you sit down?

Jill.  Sit down; you’re all shaky.

     [She makes Chloe sit down in the armchair, out of which they
     have risen, then locks the door, and closing the windows, draws
     the curtains hastily over them.]

Hillcrist. [Awkward and expectant] Can I do anything for you?

Chloe.  I couldn’t bear it he’s coming to ask you——­

Hillcrist. Who?

Chloe.  My husband. [She draws in her breath with a long shudder, then seem to seize her courage in her hands] I’ve got to be quick.  He keeps on asking—­he knows there’s something.

Hillcrist. Make your mind easy.  We shan’t tell him.

Chloe. [Appealing] Oh! that’s not enough.  Can’t you tell him something to put him back to thinking it’s all right?  I’ve done him such a wrong.  I didn’t realise till after—­I thought meeting him was just a piece of wonderful good luck, after what I’d been through.  I’m not such a bad lot—­not really.