Manson, you're perfectly wonderful! I respect you very,
very much!

MANSON. It is not enough. I shall require more.

AUNTIE [embarrassed]. Oh, of course, I shall be glad to do
anything that . . .

Why, what do you mean? . . .

MANSON. I mean that service such as mine demands a greater
recompense!

AUNTIE. You may be sure that anything in reason . . .

MANSON. It must go beyond that!

AUNTIE. Well, what do you ask?

MANSON. The uttermost obedience, loyalty, and love!

AUNTIE. Manson, how dare you! By what right . . .

MANSON. By my own right!

AUNTIE. This is insolence! What right do you mean?

MANSON. The right of understanding, the right of purpose, and the
right of will!

AUNTIE. You force me to speak angrily to you! Do you forget that
you are my servant?

MANSON. No! And, therefore, it is my office to command you now!

Sit down, and hear me speak!

VICAR. He has been sent to help us! Martha, this is God!

MANSON. Over here, please. [He points to the settee.]

AUNTIE. I . . . I . . .

[MANSON still points. She wavers as in a dream, and at length
moves mechanically across the room, obeying him.]

MANSON. Now, let me tell you exactly why you have sent for me
here. There is a strange and wretched turmoil in your soul: you
have done wrong, and you know it--but you don't know all! You
would keep what miserable little right you have by bolstering it up
with further wrong. And you have sent for me to help you in that
wrong!

AUNTIE. How dare you say that?

MANSON. Haven't you sent for me to help you in your plans about
his brother, Robert?

AUNTIE [faintly]. What plans? . . .

MANSON. The plan of banishing him further from your lives than
ever! The plan of _providing_ for him! The plan of patching up
his bitter wrongs with gold!

AUNTIE. How did you know that?

MANSON. I know _you_! What, do you think that God's eyes are like
your brother's--blind? Or do you think these things can be done in
darkness without crying aloud to Heaven for light?

AUNTIE. I am here to work my will, not yours!

MANSON. What gain do you hope to bring yourself by that?

AUNTIE. I am not thinking of myself! I am thinking only of my
husband's happiness!

MANSON. Behold the happiness you have already brought him!

AUNTIE. There is the child! It would break her heart!

MANSON. What is her heart but broken now--by you?

AUNTIE, Robert himself would be the first