ELLIE. Oh, no. I'm not so foolish. I don't fall in love with people. I'm not so silly as you think. MRS HUSHABYE. I see. Only something to think about--to give some interest and pleasure to life. ELLIE. Just so. That's all, really. MRS HUSHABYE. It makes the hours go fast, doesn't it? No tedious waiting to go to sleep at nights and wondering whether you will have a bad night. How delightful it makes waking up in the morning! How much better than the happiest dream! All life transfigured! No more wishing one had an interesting book to read, because life is so much happier than any book! No desire but to be alone and not to have to talk to anyone: to be alone and just think about it. ELLIE [embracing her]. Hesione, you are a witch. How do you know? Oh, you are the most sympathetic woman in the world! MRS HUSHABYE [caressing her]. Pettikins, my pettikins, how I envy you! and how I pity you! ELLIE. Pity me! Oh, why? A very handsome man of fifty, with mousquetaire moustaches, wearing a rather dandified curly brimmed hat, and carrying an elaborate walking-stick, comes into the room from the hall, and stops short at sight of the women on the sofa. ELLIE [seeing him and rising in glad surprise]. Oh! Hesione: this is Mr Marcus Darnley. MRS HUSHABYE [rising]. What a lark! He is my husband. ELLIE. But now--[she stops suddenly: then turns pale and sways]. MRS HUSHABYE [catching her and sitting down with her on the sofa]. Steady, my pettikins. THE MAN [with a mixture of confusion and effrontery, depositing his hat and stick on the teak table]. My real name, Miss Dunn, is Hector Hushabye. I leave you to judge whether that is a name any sensitive man would care to confess to. I never use it when I can possibly help it. I have been away for nearly a month; and I had no idea you knew my wife, or that you were coming here. I am none the less delighted to find you in our little house. ELLIE [in great distress]. I don't know what to do. Please, may I speak to papa? Do leave me. I can't bear it. MRS HUSHABYE. Be off, Hector. HECTOR. I-- MRS HUSHABYE. Quick, quick. Get out. HECTOR. If you think it better--[he goes out, taking his hat with him but leaving the stick on the table]. MRS HUSHABYE [laying Ellie down at the end of the sofa]. Now, pettikins, he is gone. There's nobody but me. You can let yourself go. Don't try to control yourself. Have a good cry. ELLIE [raising her head]. Damn! MRS HUSHABYE. Splendid! Oh, what a relief! I thought you were going to be broken-hearted. Never mind me. Damn him again. ELLIE. I am not damning him. I am damning myself for being such a fool. [Rising]. How could I let myself be taken in so? [She begins prowling to and fro, her bloom gone, looking curiously older and harder]. MRS HUSHABYE [cheerfully]. Why not, pettikins? Very few young women can resist Hector. I couldn't when I was your age. He is really rather splendid, you know.