MORELL. Some fiddlestick. Oh, if she is mad enough to leave me for you, who will protect her? Who will help her? who will work for her? who will be a father to her children? (He sits down distractedly on the sofa, with his elbows on his knees and his head propped on his clenched fists.) MARCHBANKS (snapping his fingers wildly). She does not ask those silly questions. It is she who wants somebody to protect, to help, to work for--somebody to give her children to protect, to help and to work for. Some grown up man who has become as a little child again. Oh, you fool, you fool, you triple fool! I am the man, Morell: I am the man. (He dances about excitedly, crying.) You don't understand what a woman is. Send for her, Morell: send for her and let her choose between--(The door opens and Candida enters. He stops as if petrified.) CANDIDA (amazed, on the threshold). What on earth are you at, Eugene? MARCHBANKS (oddly). James and I are having a preaching match; and he is getting the worst of it. (Candida looks quickly round at Morell. Seeing that he is distressed, she hurries down to him, greatly vexed, speaking with vigorous reproach to Marchbanks.) CANDIDA. You have been annoying him. Now I won't have it, Eugene: do you hear? (Putting her hand on Morell's shoulder, and quite forgetting her wifely tact in her annoyance.) My boy shall not be worried: I will protect him. MORELL (rising proudly). Protect! CANDIDA (not heeding him--to Eugene). What have you been saying? MARCHBANKS (appalled). Nothing-- CANDIDA. Eugene! Nothing? MARCHBANKS (piteously). I mean--I--I'm very sorry. I won't do it again: indeed I won't. I'll let him alone. MORELL (indignantly, with an aggressive movement towards Eugene). Let me alone! You young-- CANDIDA (Stopping him). Sh--no, let me deal with him, James. MARCHBANKS. Oh, you're not angry with me, are you? CANDIDA (severely). Yes, I am--very angry. I have a great mind to pack you out of the house. MORELL (taken aback by Candida's vigor, and by no means relishing the sense of being rescued by her from another man). Gently, Candida, gently. I am able to take care of myself. CANDIDA (petting him). Yes, dear: of course you are. But you mustn't be annoyed and made miserable. MARCHBANKS (almost in tears, turning to the door). I'll go. CANDIDA. Oh, you needn't go: I can't turn you out at this time of night. (Vehemently.) Shame on you! For shame! MARCHBANKS (desperately). But what have I done? CANDIDA. I know what you have done--as well as if I had been here all the time. Oh, it was unworthy! You are like a child: you cannot hold your tongue. MARCHBANKS. I would die ten times over sooner than give you a moment's pain. CANDIDA (with infinite contempt for this puerility). Much good your dying would do me! MORELL. Candida, my dear: this altercation is hardly quite seemingly. It is a matter between two men; and I am the right person to settle it. CANDIDA. Two MEN! Do you call that a man? (To Eugene.) You bad boy!