Hillcrist. Dawker!

     [Dawker comes to him, followed by Mrs. Hillcrist.]

What’s the mystery about young Mrs. Hornblower?

Dawker.  No mystery.

Hillcrist. Well, what is it?

Mrs. H. You’d better not ask.

Hillcrist. I wish to know.

Mrs. H. Jill, go out and wait for us.

Jill.  Nonsense, mother!

Mrs. H. It’s not for a girl to hear.

Jill.  Bosh!  I read the papers every day.

Dawker.  It’s nothin’ worse than you get there, anyway.

Mrs. H. Do you wish your daughter——­

Jill.  It’s ridiculous, Dodo; you’d think I was mother at my age.

Mrs. H. I was not so proud of my knowledge.

Jill.  No, but you had it, dear.

Hillcrist. What is it——­what is it?  Come over here, Dawker.

     [Dawker goes to him, Right, and speaks in a low voice.]

What! [Again Dawker speaks in, a low voice.]

Good God!

Mrs. H. Exactly!

Jill.  Poor thing—­whatever it is!

Mrs. H. Poor thing?

Jill.  What went before, mother?

Mrs. H. It’s what’s coming after that matters; luckily.

Hillcrist. How do you know this?

Dawker.  My friend here [He points to the Stranger] was one of the agents.

Hillcrist. It’s shocking.  I’m sorry I heard it.

Mrs. H. I told you not to.

Hillcrist. Ask your friend to come here.

     [Dawker beckons, and the Stranger joins the group.]

Are you sure of what you’ve said, sir?

Stranger.  Perfectly.  I remember her quite well; her name then was——­

Hillcrist. I don’t want to know, thank you.  I’m truly sorry.  I wouldn’t wish the knowledge of that about his womenfolk to my worst enemy.  This mustn’t be spoken of. [Jill hugs his arm.]

Mrs. H. It will not be if Mr. Hornblower is wise.  If he is not wise, it must be spoken of.

Hillcrist. I say no, Amy.  I won’t have it.  It’s a dirty weapon.  Who touches pitch shall be defiled.

Mrs. H. Well, what weapons does he use against us?  Don’t be quixotic.  For all we can tell, they know it quite well already, and if they don’t they ought to.  Anyway, to know this is our salvation, and we must use it.

Jill:  [Sotto voce] Pitch!  Dodo!  Pitch!

Dawker.  The threat’s enough!  J.P.—­Chapel—­Future member for the constituency——.

Hillcrist. [A little more doubtfully] To use a piece of knowledge about a woman—­it’s repugnant.  I—­I won’t do it.