ness!

MARY. Then, _that_ is true, at least: my father is a wicked
man! . . .

AUNTIE. I don't want to speak about your father!

MARY. He is nothing that I have wished him to be: not _brave_ . . .

VICAR. Yes--_that_ at least!

MARY [turning towards him]. _Beautiful_? . . .

VICAR. What do you mean by beautiful?

MARY. You know what I mean: What you once said God was, when you
called _Him_ beautiful.

VICAR. I have no right to judge your father.

[She perceives the evasion.]

MARY. Not even--_good_? . . .

VICAR. He is what I have made him. I and no other!

[She stands looking at him piteously.]

AUNTIE. There is another--I! I kept them apart: I poisoned your
uncle against him: I took you away from him: It was I who kept you
in ignorance of your father!

MARY. Why? . . .

AUNTIE. Because he stands in the way of my husband's happiness!
Because, even, he is your father! Because I hate him! I could
almost _wish him dead_!

VICAR. Martha! . . .

[There is a long pause.]

MARY. Then I have nobody, now. It's no use wishing any more.

AUNTIE. Mary . . .

MARY. No! . . . I want to be alone.

[She goes out into the garden. They follow her out with their
eyes.]

VICAR. So! God has revealed His partisanship!--He has beggared us
both!

[AUNTIE considers this for a moment. Then, with sudden
determination, she rises.]

AUNTIE. I am not going to be beggared without a struggle for it,
William!

[She moves briskly across to the bell.]

VICAR. What are you going to do, Martha?

AUNTIE, [flashing round passionately, before she can ring the
bell]. Do you think I am going to stand by and see your life
wrecked--yours and that child's?

VICAR. We are not the only persons concerned, Martha.

AUNTIE. As far as I care, you are!

VICAR. And what of Robert? . . .

AUNTIE. Robert! That's what I'm going to see to now!

[She rings the bell.]

There's only one way of dealing with a brute like that!

VICAR. What's that?

AUNTIE. Pack him off to Australia, Africa--anywhere, so long as we
are never pestered with him again!

VICAR, Do you think you'll get him to go?

AUNTIE. Oh, I'll find the money! A drunkard like that will do
anything for money! Well, he shall have plenty: perhaps he'll
drink himself to . . .

VICAR. By Heaven, but I say no!

AUNTIE. By Heaven, but I say yes! It's about time I took things
in hand again! Do you think I'm going to risk th