MARGARET. You know--you know they’re not true. GRAY. Then what do you mean when you say, “I won’t come?” MARGARET. I mean--Hilary. I’ve got to put him first because--because he’s weak. You--you’re strong. GRAY. Not strong enough to do without my birthright. I want my wife and my children. I’ve waited a long while for you. Now you must come. SYDNEY _comes down the stairs, a red furred cloak over her arm. She pauses a few steps from the bottom, afraid to break in on them._ MARGARET. If Hilary’s left alone he’ll go mad again. GRAY. Margaret--come. MARGARET. How can I? GRAY. Margaret, my own heart--come. MARGARET. You oughtn’t to torture me. I’ve got to do what’s right. GRAY. [_Darkening_] Are you coming with me? I shan’t ask it again. MARGARET. Oh, God--You hear him! What am I to do? SYDNEY _comes down another step_. GRAY. Why, you’re to do as you choose. I shan’t force you. I’m not your turn-key. I’m not your beggar. We’re free people, you and I. It’s for you to say if you’ll keep your--conscience, do you call it?--and lose-- MARGARET. I’ve lost what I love. There’s no more to lose. GRAY. You sing as sweetly as a toy nightingale. Almost I’d think you were real. MARGARET. [_Wounded_] I don’t know what you mean. GRAY. “What you love!” You don’t know the meaning of the notes you use. MARGARET. [_Very white, but her voice is steady_] Don’t deceive yourself. I love you. I ache and faint for you. I starve-- SYDNEY. [_Appalled, whispering_] What is it? I don’t know her. MARGARET. I’m withering without you like cut grass in the sun. I love you. I love you. Can’t you see how it is with me? But-- GRAY. There’s no “but” in love. MARGARET. What is it in me? There’s a thing I can’t do. I can’t see such pain. GRAY. [_Hoarsely_] Do you think _I_ can’t suffer? MARGARET. I _am_ you. But he--he’s so defenceless. It’s vivisection--like cutting a dumb beast about to make me well. I can’t do it. I’d rather die of my cancer. GRAY. [_The storm breaking_] Die then--you fool--you fool! SYDNEY _descends another step. The cloak slides from her hands on to the baluster._ GRAY. [_Without expression_] Good-bye. MARGARET. [_Blindly_] Forgive-- GRAY. How can I? MARGARET. I would you-- GRAY. D’you think I bear you malice? It’s not I. Why, to deny me, that’s a little thing. I’ll not go under because you’re faithless. But what you’re doing is the sin without forgiveness. You’re denying--not me--but life. You’re denying the spirit of life. You’re denying--you’re denying your mate. SYDNEY. [_Strung up to breaking point_] Mother, you shall not. MARGARET. [_As they both turn_] Sydney! SYDNEY. [_Coming down to them_] I tell you--I tell you, you shall not. MARGARET. [_Sitting down, with a listless gesture_] I must. There’s no way out. SYDNEY. There is. For _you_ there is. I’ve thought it all along, and now I know. Father--he’s my job, not yours.