my
bruised spirit! Yes, that drove me distracted for a while; but I'm sane
now--now it is you that are mad, mad to believe! You foolish people,
not to know [beating her breast and forehead]--that Hell or Heaven is
here and here! [Pointing to the book.] Take it! [GERTRUDE turns away
and joins AMOS, and they walk quickly to the door.]

AGNES. [Frantically.] I'll not endure the sight of it--!
[As they reach the door, GERTRUDE looks back and sees AGNES hurl the
book into the fire. They go out. AGNES starts to her feet and stands
motionless for a moment, her head bent, her fingers twisted in her
hair. Then she raises her head; the expression of her face has changed
to a look of fright and horror. Uttering a loud cry, she hastens to the
stove, and, thrusting her hand into the fire, drags out the book.
GERTRUDE and AMOS re-enter quickly in alarm.]

GERTRUDE. Agnes--! [They stand looking at AGNES, who is kneeling upon
the ground, clutching the charred book.]

END OF THE THIRD ACT

THE FOURTH ACT

[The scene is an apartment in the Campo San Bartolomeo. The walls are
of plaster; the ceiling is frescoed in cheap modern Italian fashion. At
the end of the room is a door leading to AGNES'S bedroom; to the left
is an exit onto a landing, while a nearer door, on the same side,
opens into another room. The furniture and the few objects attached to
the walls are characteristic of a moderate-priced Venetian lodging.
Placed about the room, however, are photographs in pretty fanes and
knick-knacks personal to GERTRUDE, and a travelling-trunk and bag are
also to be seen. The shutters of the two nearer windows are closed; a
broad stream of moonlight, coming through the further window, floods
the upper part of the room.]

[HEPHZIBAH, a grey-haired north-country woman dressed as a lady's maid,
is collecting the knick-knacks and placing them in the travelling bag.
After a moment or two, GERTRUDE enters by the further door.]

GERTRUDE. [At the partly closed door, speaking into the further room.]
I'll come back to you in a little while, Agnes. [Closing the door, and
addressing HEPHZIBAH.] How are you getting on, Heppy?

HEPHZIBAH. A'reet, Miss Gerty. I'm puttin' together a' the sma'
knick-knacks, to lay them wi' the claes i' th' trunks.

GERTRUDE. [Taking some photographs from the table and bringing them to
HEPHZIBAH.] We leave here at a quarter to eight in the morning; not a
minute later.

HEPHZIBAH. Aye. Will there be much