etly.

IVY. [Stopping at the door] Mother's pluckin' a duck. Only,
please, Mrs. Strangway, if she comes in even after yu've gone, she'll
know, because--because yu always have that particular nice scent.

BEATRICE. Thank you, my child. I'll see to that.

[Ivy looks at her as if she would speak again, then turns
suddenly, and goes out. BEATRICE'S face darkens; she shivers.
Taking out a little cigarette case, she lights a cigarette, and
watches the puff's of smoke wreathe shout her and die away. The
frightened MERCY peers out, spying for a chance, to escape.
Then from the house STRANGWAY comes in. All his dreaminess is
gone.]

STRANGWAY. Thank God! [He stops at the look on her face] I don't
understand, though. I thought you were still out there.

BEATRICE. [Letting her cigarette fall, and putting her foot on it]
No.

STRANGWAY: You're staying? Oh! Beatrice; come! We'll get away from
here at once--as far, as far--anywhere you like. Oh! my darling
--only come! If you knew----

BEATRICE. It's no good, Michael; I've tried and tried.

STRANGWAY. Not! Then, why--? Beatrice! You said, when you were
right away--I've waited----

BEATRICE. I know. It's cruel--it's horrible. But I told you not to
hope, Michael. I've done my best. All these months at Mentone, I've
been wondering why I ever let you marry me--when that feeling wasn't
dead!

STRANGWAY. You can't have come back just to leave me again?

BEATRICE. When you let me go out there with mother I thought--I did
think I would be able; and I had begun--and then--spring came!

STRANGWAY. Spring came here too! Never so--aching! Beatrice, can't
you?

BEATRICE. I've something to say.

STRANGWAY. No! No! No!

BEATRICE. You see--I've--fallen.

STRANGWAY. Ah! [In a twice sharpened by pain] Why, in the name of
mercy, come here to tell me that? Was he out there, then?

BEATRICE. I came straight back to him.

STRANGWAY. To Durford?

BEATRICE. To the Crossway Hotel, miles out--in my own name. They
don't know me there. I told you not to hope, Michael. I've done my
best; I swear it.

STRANGWAY. My God!

BEATRICE. It was your God that brought us to live near him!

STRANGWAY. Why have you come to me like this?

BEATRICE. To know what you're going to do. Are you going to divorce
me? We're in your power. Don't divorce me--Doctor and patient--you
must know--it ruins him. He'll lo