JOANNA (imprudently). She does know. She has been listening. (There is a moment's danger of the scene degenerating into something mid-Victorian. Fortunately a chivalrous man is present to lift it to a higher plane. JOHN PURDIE is one to whom subterfuge of any kind is abhorrent; if he has not spoken out before it is because of his reluctance to give MABEL pain. He speaks out now, and seldom probably has he proved himself more worthy.) PURDIE. This is a man's business. I must be open with you now, Mabel: it is the manlier way. If you wish it I shall always be true to you in word and deed; it is your right. But I cannot pretend that Joanna is not the one woman in the world for me. If I had met her before you--it's Kismet, I suppose. (He swells.) JOANNA (from a chair). Too late, too late. MABEL (although the woman has seen him swell). I suppose you never knew what true love was till you met her, Jack? PURDIE. You force me to say it. Joanna and I are as one person. We have not a thought at variance. We are one rather than two. MABEL (looking at JOANNA). Yes, and that's the one! (With the cheapest sarcasm.) I am so sorry to have marred your lives. PURDIE. If any blame there is, it is all mine; she is as spotless as the driven snow. The moment I mentioned love to her she told me to desist. MABEL. Not she. JOANNA. So you were listening! (The obtuseness of MABEL is very strange to her.) Mabel, don't you see how splendid he is! MABEL. Not quite, Joanna. (She goes away. She is really a better woman than this, but never capable of scaling that higher plane to which he has, as it were, offered her a hand.) JOANNA. How lovely of you, Jack, to take it all upon yourself. PURDIE (simply). It is the man's privilege. JOANNA. Mabel has such a horrid way of seeming to put people in the wrong. PURDIE. Have you noticed that? Poor Mabel, it is not an enviable quality. JOANNA (despondently). I don't think I care to go out now. She has spoilt it all. She has taken the innocence out of it, Jack. PURDIE (a rock). We must be brave and not mind her. Ah, Joanna, if we had met in time. If only I could begin again. To be battered for ever just because I once took the wrong turning, it isn't fair. JOANNA (emerging from his arms). The wrong turning! Now, who was saying that a moment ago--about himself? Why, it was Matey. (A footstep is heard.) PURDIE (for the first time losing patience with his wife). Is that her coming back again? It's too bad. (But the intruder is MRS. DEARTH, and he greets her with relief.) Ah, it is you, Mrs. Dearth. ALICE. Yes, it is; but thank you for telling me, Mr. Purdie. I don't intrude, do I? JOANNA (descending to the lower plane, on which even goddesses snap). Why should you?