[Mrs. H. If you had a son tricked into marrying such a woman,
     would you wish to remain ignorant of it?]

Hillcrist. [Struck] I don’t know—­I don’t know.

Mrs. H. At least, you’d like to be in a position to help him, if you thought it necessary?

Hillcrist. Well—­that perhaps.

Mrs. H. Then you agree that Mr. Hornblower at least should be told. 
What he does with the knowledge is not our affair.

Hillcrist. [Half to the Stranger and half to Dawker] Do you realise that an imputation of that kind may be ground for a criminal libel action?

Stranger.  Quite.  But there’s no shadow of doubt; not the faintest. 
You saw her just now?

Hillcrist. I did. [Revolting again] No; I don’t like it.

     [Dawker has drawn the Stranger a step or two away, and they
     talk together.]

Mrs. H. [In a low voice] And the ruin of our home?  You’re betraying your fathers, Jack.

Hillcrist. I can’t bear bringing a woman into it.

Mrs. H. We don’t.  If anyone brings her in; it will be Hornblower himself.

Hillcrist. We use her secret as a lever.

Mrs. H. I tell you quite plainly:  I will only consent to holding my tongue about her, if you agree to Hornblower being told.  It’s a scandal to have a woman like that in the neighbourhood.

Jill.  Mother means that, father.

Hillcrist. Jill, keep quiet.  This is a very bitter position.  I can’t tell what to do.

Mrs. H. You must use this knowledge.  You owe it to me—­to us all.  You’ll see that when you’ve thought it over.

Jill. [Softly] Pitch, Dodo, pitch!

Mrs. H. [Furiously] Jill, be quiet!

Hillcrist. I was brought up never to hurt a woman.  I can’t do it,
Amy—­I can’t do it.  I should never feel like a gentleman again.

Mrs. H. [Coldly] Oh!  Very well.

Hillcrist. What d’you mean by that?

Mrs. H. I shall use the knowledge in my own way.

Hillcrist. [Staring at her] You would—­against my wishes?

Mrs. H. I consider it my duty.

Hillcrist. If I agree to Hornblower being told——­

Mrs. H. That’s all I want.

Hillcrist. It’s the utmost I’ll consent to, Amy; and don’t let’s have any humbug about its being, morally necessary.  We do it to save our skins.

Mrs. H. I don’t know what you mean by humbug?

Jill.  He means humbug; mother.

Hillcrist. It must stop at old Hornblower.  Do you quite understand?

Mrs. H. Quite.

Jill.  Will it stop?

Mrs. H. Jill, if you can’t keep your impertinence to yourself——­