Essie.  I was to come to you.

Anderson.  Who told you to?

Essie (staring at him, as if his presence astonished her). 
Are you here?

Judith.  Of course.  Don’t be foolish, child.

Anderson.  Gently, dearest:  you’ll frighten her. (Going between them.) Come here, Essie. (She comes to him.) Who sent you?

Essie.  Dick.  He sent me word by a soldier.  I was to come here at once and do whatever Mrs. Anderson told me.

Anderson (enlightened).  A soldier!  Ah, I see it all now!  They have arrested Richard. (Judith makes a gesture of despair.)

Essie.  No.  I asked the soldier.  Dick’s safe.  But the soldier said you had been taken—­

Anderson.  I! (Bewildered, he turns to Judith for an explanation.)

Judith (coaxingly) All right, dear:  I understand. (To Essie.) Thank you, Essie, for coming; but I don’t need you now.  You may go home.

Essie (suspicious) Are you sure Dick has not been touched?  Perhaps he told the soldier to say it was the minister.  (Anxiously.) Mrs. Anderson:  do you think it can have been that?

Anderson.  Tell her the truth if it is so, Judith.  She will learn it from the first neighbor she meets in the street. (Judith turns away and covers her eyes with her hands.)

Essie (wailing).  But what will they do to him?  Oh, what will they do to him?  Will they hang him? (Judith shudders convulsively, and throws herself into the chair in which Richard sat at the tea table.)

Anderson (patting Essie’s shoulder and trying to comfort her).  I hope not.  I hope not.  Perhaps if you’re very quiet and patient, we may be able to help him in some way.

Essie.  Yes—­help him—­yes, yes, yes.  I’ll be good.

Anderson.  I must go to him at once, Judith.

Judith (springing up).  Oh no.  You must go away—­far away, to some place of safety.

Anderson.  Pooh!

Judith (passionately).  Do you want to kill me?  Do you think I can bear to live for days and days with every knock at the door—­ every footstep—­giving me a spasm of terror? to lie awake for nights and nights in an agony of dread, listening for them to come and arrest you?

Anderson.  Do you think it would be better to know that I had run away from my post at the first sign of danger?

Judith (bitterly).  Oh, you won’t go.  I know it.  You’ll stay; and I shall go mad.

Anderson.  My dear, your duty—­

Judith (fiercely).  What do I care about my duty?

Anderson (shocked).  Judith!