JUDITH (_with spirit_): “Yes—and a game that must be played to the finish.” SIMON: “Zara, what does this mean?” JUDITH: “So many illusions shattered—so many dreams trodden in the dust!” SOREL: I’m George now—“I don’t understand! You and Victor—My God!” JUDITH: “Sssh! Isn’t that little Pam crying?” SIMON (_savagely_): “She’ll cry more, poor mite, when she realises her mother is a——” JUDITH (_shrieking_): “Don’t say it—don’t say it!” SOREL: “Spare her that.” JUDITH: “I’ve given you all that makes life worth living—my youth, my womanhood, and now my child. Would you tear the very heart out of me? I tell you that it’s infamous that men like you should be allowed to pollute Society. You have ruined my life—I have nothing left—nothing. God in heaven, where am I to turn for help....” SOREL (_through clenched teeth_): “Is this true? Answer me—is this true?” JUDITH (_wailing_): “Yes, yes!” SOREL (_springing at SIMON_): “You cur!” [_The front door bell rings._ JUDITH: Damn! There’s the bell. SOREL (_rushing to the glass_): I look hideous! SIMON: Yes, dear. [_CLARA enters._ JUDITH: Clara—before you open the door—we shall be eight for dinner. CLARA: My God! SIMON: And for breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner to-morrow. JUDITH (_vaguely_): Will you get various rooms ready? CLARA: I shall have to—they can’t sleep in the passage. SOREL: How we’ve upset Clara. JUDITH: It can’t be helped—nothing can be helped. It’s Fate—everything that happens is Fate. That’s always a great comfort to me. CLARA: More like arrant selfishness. JUDITH: You mustn’t be pert, Clara. CLARA: Pert I may be, but I ’ave got some thought for others. Eight for dinner—Amy going home early. It’s more nor less than an imposition. [_The bell rings again._ SIMON: Hadn’t you better let them all in? [_CLARA goes to the front door and admits SANDY TYRELL, who is a fresh-looking young man; he has an unspoilt, youthful sense of honour and rather big hands, owing to a misplaced enthusiasm for amateur boxing._ [_CLARA goes out._ SANDY (_to JUDITH_): I say, it’s perfectly ripping of you to let me come down. JUDITH: Are you alone? SANDY (_surprised_): Yes. JUDITH: I mean, you didn’t meet anyone at the station? SANDY: I motored down; my car’s outside. Would you like me to meet anybody? JUDITH: Oh, no. I must introduce you. This is my daughter Sorel, and my son Simon. SANDY (_shaking hands_): How-do-you-do. SOREL (_coldly_): I’m extremely well, thank you, and I hope you are. SIMON: So do I. [_They both go upstairs rather grandly. SANDY looks shattered._ JUDITH: You must forgive me for having rather peculiar children. Have you got a bag or anything? SANDY: Yes; it’s in the car. JUDITH: We’d better leave it there for the moment, as Clara has to get the tea. We’ll find you a room afterwards. SANDY: I’ve been looking forward to this most awfully. JUDITH: It is nice, isn’t it? You can see as far as Marlow on a clear day, they tell me.