[_She waits listening to the horse hoofs, which are heard more and more distinctly; then comes the sound of a man dismounting on a stone floor._ VERA _turns to_ PUNKAH BOY, _who is wide awake and listening, and makes a sign to him. He runs back_ L., _and immediately returns, crying, "Kal[^y]ona Sahib." Excited whispers of the name are heard, off; then_ CARLYON'S _voice speaking to the servants in Hindustani_. _Enter_ CARLYON, _from_ L. _back round the house_. CARLYON. [_Coming forward impulsively._] Vera, it gives me fresh life to see your face! [_Kisses her, then throws himself into the chair. She stands helpless, having stifled her first impulse to run forward and greet him._] Great Heavens, how tired I am! I have ridden fifty miles since midday. [_Throwing himself back and stretching his arms out._] Ah, I suppose I should not have thought much of it once! VERA. [_Constrainedly._] Why have you come? CARLYON. I thought your heart might fail you. You were all alone. VERA. You thought I had been long? CARLYON. I was anxious at not hearing from you. I knew it was a heavy burden for you, and I came to help. Did you need help? VERA. None. [_Pause._ CARLYON _gets up and walks a little way, then turns._ CARLYON. Then why is it not done? VERA. It is done--almost all. CARLYON. It is? Oh, thank God! I was so tired! I felt this man as a terror hanging over me. I seemed like an old man just now, for the first time. [_Pause; he walks again, then looks at her closely._] You are pale. He is not actually dead? VERA. No, he is not dead. CARLYON. You do not like to speak of it? Never mind.--Vera, you have been a good and brave daughter to me. You have given me rest, the first time in my life I have ever needed it. VERA. There is no rest for you here. [_She stands leaning backward slightly against the wall, and speaks with effort, throwing the lamplight full on his face._ CARLYON. What do you mean? [_Putting up his hand._] Turn off that light from my eyes! VERA. You must face more light than this. I have not helped you. There is no rest for you here, no rest anywhere that I know of. CARLYON. You are not failing me after all? VERA. I have watched him till he is almost safe. If you want him to die now you must kill him outright--by force. CARLYON. Vera, you have mistrusted me. VERA. [_Passionately._] No. I have betrayed you! Can't you ever see it? I have turned against you, and you are beaten! You have told me everything. I alone---- CARLYON. _You_ daren't lift your voice! I don't fear that. VERA. There are proofs enough without me! And witnesses; Selim first---- CARLYON. [_As if stung._] Be quiet! Let me think. [_Pause._] To think that _you_ should have done it! To think of the vermin I have trusted before, and none of them ever betrayed me! VERA. No; _you_ betrayed _them_! Oh, it is their blind faith that has made you so pitilessly false! CARLYON. To trust _you_--it was like trusting myself! VERA.