ALICE. Take care of her; they are easily lost. (She shuffles away.) DEARTH. Poor soul. I expect she has had a rough time, and that some man is to blame for it--partly, at any rate. (Restless) That woman rather affects me, Margaret; I don't know why. Didn't you like her husky voice? (He goes on painting.) I say, Margaret, we lucky ones, let's swear always to be kind to people who are down on their luck, and then when we are kind let's be a little kinder. MARGARET (gleefully). Yes, let's. DEARTH. Margaret, always feel sorry for the failures, the ones who are always failures--especially in my sort of calling. Wouldn't it be lovely, to turn them on the thirty-ninth year of failure into glittering successes? MARGARET. Topping. DEARTH. Topping. MARGARET. Oh, topping. How could we do it, Dad? DEARTH. By letter. 'To poor old Tom Broken Heart, Top Attic, Garret Chambers, S.E.--'DEAR SIR,--His Majesty has been graciously pleased to purchase your superb picture of Marlow Ferry.' MARGARET. 'P.S.--I am sending the money in a sack so as you can hear it chink.' DEARTH. What could we do for our friend who passed just now? I can't get her out of my head. MARGARET. You have made me forget her. (Plaintively) Dad, I didn't like it. DEARTH. Didn't like what, dear? MARGARET (shuddering). I didn't like her saying that about your losing me. DEARTH (the one thing of which he is sure). I shan't lose you. MARGARET (hugging his arm). It would be hard for me if you lost me, but it would be worse for you. I don't know how I know that, but I do know it. What would you do without me? DEARTH (almost sharply). Don't talk like that, dear. It is wicked and stupid, and naughty. Somehow that poor woman--I won't paint any more to-night. MARGARET. Let's get out of the wood; it frightens me. DEARTH. And you loved it a moment ago. Hullo! (He has seen a distant blurred light in the wood, apparently from a window.) I hadn't noticed there was a house there. MARGARET (tingling). Daddy, I feel sure there wasn't a house there! DEARTH. Goose. It is just that we didn't look: our old way of letting the world go hang; so interested in ourselves. Nice behaviour for people who have been boasting about what they would do for other people. Now I see what I ought to do. MARGARET. Let's get out of the wood. DEARTH. Yes, but my idea first. It is to rouse these people and get food from them for the husky one. MARGARET (clinging to him). She is too far away now. DEARTH. I can overtake her. MARGARET (in a frenzy). Don't go into that house, Daddy! I don't know why it is, but I am afraid of that house! (He waggles a reproving finger at her.) DEARTH. There is a kiss for each moment until I come back. (She wipes them from her face.) Oh, naughty, go and stand in the corner. (She stands against a tree but she stamps her foot.) Who has got a nasty temper!