MARGARET. But I want to know. I care about my church. It lets me and it doesn’t let me--what does it mean? RECTOR. [_Much moved_] I am not concerned with meanings, Mrs. Fairfield. I am concerned with my own conscience. MISS FAIRFIELD. Margaret--you’ve no business to upset the Rector. Why don’t you tell him that the situation has changed? MARGARET. Nothing has changed. RECTOR. Changed? MISS FAIRFIELD. My nephew has recovered--returned. He’s in the house now. RECTOR. Providence! It’s providence! [_With enthusiasm_] I never knew anything like providence. Changed indeed, Miss Fairfield! My objection goes. Dear little Sydney! Ah, Mrs. Fairfield, in a year you and your husband will look back on this--episode as on a dream--a bad dream-- MARGARET. [_Stonily_] I have no husband. RECTOR. Ah! the re-marriage--a mere formality-- MISS FAIRFIELD. Simpler still--the decree can be rescinded. MARGARET. [_Stunned_] Aunt Hester, knowing his history, knowing mine, is it possible that you expect me to go back to him? MISS FAIRFIELD. He’s come back to you. RECTOR. A wife’s duty-- MARGARET. [_Slowly_] I think you’re wicked. I think you’re both wicked. RECTOR. Mrs. Fairfield! MISS FAIRFIELD. Control yourself, Margaret! MARGARET. [_With a touch of wildness in her manner_] You--do you love your wife? RECTOR. Mrs. Fairfield! MARGARET. Do you? RECTOR. Mrs. Pumphrey and I--most attached-- MARGARET. Suppose you weren’t. Think of it--to want so desperately to feel--and to feel nothing. Do you know what it means to dread a person who loves you? To stiffen at the look in their eyes? To pity and--shudder? You should not judge. HILARY, _unseen, opens the door and shuts it again quickly_. RECTOR. I--I-- MISS FAIRFIELD. There it is, you see, Rector! She doesn’t care _what_ she says. DR. ALLIOT _enters_. DR. ALLIOT. [_Gravely, holding the door behind him_] Margaret, my child-- [_He sees the others and his voice changes_] Hullo, Pumphrey! You here still? Well, well--you’re cutting it fine. RECTOR. The service! [_He pulls out his watch, stricken._] DR. ALLIOT. I’ll run you down there if you’ll wait a minute. [_To_ MARGARET, _privately, poking a wise forefinger_] What you want, my child, is a good cry and a cup of tea. RECTOR. [_Coming up to_ MARGARET, _stiffly_] Goodday, Mrs. Fairfield! You will not--reconsider--? MARGARET. I will not. RECTOR. I regret--I regret-- [_To_ MISS FAIRFIELD] My dear lady, you have my sympathy. I think I left my hat-- [MISS FAIRFIELD _escorts him into the hall_.] DR. ALLIOT. Hilary’s coming home with me, Margaret. He wants a word with you first. Can you manage that? MARGARET. Of course. DR. ALLIOT. [_Abruptly_] Where’s Meredith? MARGARET. [_Eagerly_] He’s coming. He’s taking me away. DR. ALLIOT. Good. The sooner the better. RECTOR. [_Reappearing at the door_] Dr. Alliot--it now wants seven minutes to the half. DR. ALLIOT. Coming! Coming! See now--you can be gentle with him-- MARGARET. Of course.