must know
the truth.

PETER. William, make haste.... Frederik is listening at the door.

WILLIAM. [_Frightened._] I won't say any more. He's there ... at the door
... [_He looks over his shoulder and_ CATHERINE _goes towards the door._

DR. MACPHERSON. William, tell me.

PETER. William!

CATHERINE _opens the door suddenly._ FREDERIK _is standing, listening. He
is taken unawares and for a few seconds he does not move--then he
recovers._

WILLIAM. Please don't let him scold me. I'm afraid of him. [_Going towards
the stairs--looking at_ FREDERIK.] I was afraid of him when I lived with
Annamarie and he came to see us and made her cry.

DR. MACPHERSON. Are you sure you remember that? Weren't you too small?

WILLIAM. No, I do remember.... I always did remember; only for a little
while I--I forgot.... I must go to bed. He told me to. [_Goes upstairs._

PETER. [_Calling after_ WILLIAM.] You're a good boy, William. [WILLIAM
_goes to his room._

CATHERINE. [_After a slight pause--simply._] Frederik, you've heard from
Annamarie.... [_Gestures towards the desk._ FREDERIK _sees the photograph
and is silent._] You've had a letter from her. You tried to destroy it.
Why did you tell Marta that you'd had no message--no news? You went to see
her, too. Why did you tell me that you'd never seen her since she went
away? Why did you lie to me? Why do you hate that child?

FREDERIK. Are you going to believe what that boy--

CATHERINE. I'm going to find out. I'm going to find out where she is,
before I marry you. That child may be right or wrong; but I'm going to
know what his mother was to you. I want the truth.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Who has been in thought--now looking up._] We've heard
the truth. We had that message from Peter Grimm himself.

CATHERINE. Yes, it is true. I believe Uncle Peter Grimm was in this room
to-night.

FREDERIK. [_Not surprised--glancing towards the spot where_ PETER _stood
when he thought he saw him._] Oh! You, too? Did you see him, too?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Incredulously._] Impossible!

CATHERINE. I don't care what anyone else may think--people have the right
to think for themselves; but I believe he has been here--he _is_ here.
Uncle Peter, if you can hear me now, give me back my promise--or--or I'll
take it back!

PETER. [_Gently--smilingly--relieved._] I did give it back to you, my
dear; but what a time I have had getting it across!

CURTAIN.

ACT III.

_The third act takes place