you're safe now; and you're not hurt, are you? (He takes his arms
from her to see whether she can stand.) There: that's right, that's
right. If only you are not hurt, nothing else matters.

JUDITH. No, no, no: I'm not hurt.

ANDERSON. Thank Heaven for that! Come now: (leading her to the railed
seat and making her sit down beside him) sit down and rest: you can
tell me about it to-morrow. Or, (misunderstanding her distress) you
shall not tell me at all if it worries you. There, there! (Cheerfully.)
I'll make you some fresh tea: that will set you up again. (He goes to
the table, and empties the teapot into the slop bowl.)

JUDITH (in a strained tone). Tony.

ANDERSON. Yes, dear?

JUDITH. Do you think we are only in a dream now?

ANDERSON (glancing round at her for a moment with a pang of anxiety,
though he goes on steadily and cheerfully putting fresh tea into the
pot). Perhaps so, pet. But you may as well dream a cup of tea when
you're about it.

JUDITH. Oh, stop, stop. You don't know-- (Distracted she buries her
face in her knotted hands.)

ANDERSON (breaking down and coming to her). My dear, what is it? I
can't bear it any longer: you must tell me. It was all my fault: I was
mad to trust him.

JUDITH. No: don't say that. You mustn't say that. He--oh no, no: I
can't. Tony: don't speak to me. Take my hands--both my hands. (He takes
them, wondering.) Make me think of you, not of him. There's danger,
frightful danger; but it is your danger; and I can't keep thinking of
it: I can't, I can't: my mind goes back to his danger. He must be
saved--no: you must be saved: you, you, you. (She springs up as if to
do something or go somewhere, exclaiming) Oh, Heaven help me!

ANDERSON (keeping his seat and holding her hands with resolute
composure). Calmly, calmly, my pet. You're quite distracted.

JUDITH. I may well be. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to
do. (Tearing her hands away.) I must save him. (Anderson rises in alarm
as she runs wildly to the door. It is opened in her face by Essie, who
hurries in, full of anxiety. The surprise is so disagreeable to Judith
that it brings her to her senses. Her tone is sharp and angry as she
demands) What do you want?

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.)