[_He goes to the window and opens it. Archie scrambles in._] ROBERT. Like yesterday—eh? ARCHIE. Good morning, Mr Hand. [_He runs to Richard and kisses him:_] _Buon giorno, babbo_. RICHARD. _Buon giorno_, Archie. ROBERT. And where were you, my young gentleman? ARCHIE. Out with the milkman. I drove the horse. We went to Booterstown. [_He takes off his cap and throws it on a chair._] I am very hungry. ROBERT. [_Takes his hat from the table._] Richard, goodbye. [_Offering his hand._] To our next meeting! RICHARD. [_Rises, touches his hand._] Goodbye. [_Bertha appears at the door on the right._] ROBERT. [_Catches sight of her: to Archie._] Get your cap. Come on with me. I’ll buy you a cake and I’ll tell you a story. ARCHIE. [_To Bertha._] May I, mamma? BERTHA. Yes. ARCHIE. [_Takes his cap._] I am ready. ROBERT. [_To Richard and Bertha._] Goodbye to pappa and mamma. But not a big goodbye. ARCHIE. Will you tell me a fairy story, Mr Hand? ROBERT. A fairy story? Why not? I am your fairy godfather. [_They go out together through the double doors and down the garden. When they have gone Bertha goes to Richard and puts her arm round his waist._] BERTHA. Dick, dear, do you believe now that I have been true to you? Last night and always? RICHARD. [_Sadly._] Do not ask me, Bertha. BERTHA. [_Pressing him more closely._] I have been, dear. Surely you believe me. I gave you myself—all. I gave up all for you. You took me—and you left me. RICHARD. When did I leave you? BERTHA. You left me: and I waited for you to come back to me. Dick, dear, come here to me. Sit down. How tired you must be! [_She draws him towards the lounge. He sits down, almost reclining, resting on his arm. She sits on the mat before the lounge, holding his hand._] BERTHA. Yes, dear. I waited for you. Heavens, what I suffered then—when we lived in Rome! Do you remember the terrace of our house? RICHARD. Yes. BERTHA. I used to sit there, waiting, with the poor child with his toys, waiting till he got sleepy. I could see all the roofs of the city and the river, the _Tevere_. What is its name? RICHARD. The Tiber. BERTHA. [_Caressing her cheek with his hand._] It was lovely, Dick, only I was so sad. I was alone, Dick, forgotten by you and by all. I felt my life was ended. RICHARD. It had not begun. BERTHA. And I used to look at the sky, so beautiful, without a cloud and the city you said was so old: and then I used to think of Ireland and about ourselves. RICHARD. Ourselves? BERTHA. Yes. Ourselves. Not a day passes that I do not see ourselves, you and me, as we were when we met first. Every day of my life I see that. Was I not true to you all that time? RICHARD. [_Sighs deeply._] Yes, Bertha. You were my bride in exile. BERTHA. Wherever you go, I will follow you. If you wish to go away now I will go with you. RICHARD. I will remain. It is too soon yet to despair.