MRS. GWYN. You'd better explain what you mean, I think. JOY. I want to get you to--he--he 's--he 'snot----! MRS. GWYN. [Frigidly.] Really, Joy! JOY. [Passionately.] I'll fight against him, and I know there's something wrong about---- [She stops.] MRS. GWYN. About what? JOY. Let's tell Uncle Tom, Mother, and go away. MRS. GWYN. Tell Uncle--Tom--what? JOY. [Looking down and almost whispering.] About--about--the mine. MRS. GWYN. What about the mine? What do you mean? [Fiercely.] Have you been spying on me? JOY. [Shrinking.] No! oh, no! MRS. GWYN. Where were you? JOY. [Just above her breath.] I--I heard something. MRS. GWYN. [Bitterly.] But you were not spying? JOY. I was n't--I wasn't! I didn't want--to hear. I only heard a little. I couldn't help listening, Mother. MRS. GWYN. [With a little laugh.] Couldn't help listening? JOY. [Through her teeth.] I hate him. I didn't mean to listen, but I hate him. MRS. GWYN. I see. Why do you hate him? [There is a silence.] JOY. He--he----[She stops.] MRS. GWYN. Yes? JOY. [With a sort of despair.] I don't know. Oh! I don't know! But I feel---- MRS. GWYN. I can't reason with you. As to what you heard, it 's-- ridiculous. JOY. It 's not that. It 's--it 's you! MRS. GWYN. [Stonily.] I don't know what you mean. JOY. [Passionately.] I wish Dad were here! MRS. GWYN. Do you love your Father as much as me? JOY. Oh! Mother, no-you know I don't. MRS. GWYN. [Resentfully.] Then why do you want him? JOY. [Almost under her breath.] Because of that man. MRS. GWYN. Indeed! JOY. I will never--never make friends with him. MRS. GWYN. [Cuttingly.] I have not asked you to. JOY. [With a blind movement of her hand.] Oh, Mother! [MRS. GWYN half turns away.] Mother--won't you? Let's tell Uncle Tom and go away from him? MRS. GWYN. If you were not, a child, Joy, you wouldn't say such things. JOY. [Eagerly.] I'm not a child, I'm--I'm a woman. I am. MRS. GWYN. No! You--are--not a woman, Joy. [She sees joy throw up her arms as though warding off a blow, and turning finds that LEVER is standing in the opening of the wall.] LEVER. [Looking from face to face.] What's the matter? [There is no answer.] What is it, Joy? JOY. [Passionately.] I heard you, I don't care who knows. I'd listen again. LEVER. [Impassively.] Ah! and what did I say that was so very dreadful? JOY. You're a--a--you 're a--coward! MRS. GWYN. [With a sort of groan.] Joy! LEVER. [Stepping up to JOY, and standing with his hands behind him-- in a low voice.] Now hit me in the face--hit me--hit me as hard as you can. Go on, Joy, it'll do you good. [Joy raises her clenched hand, but drops it, and hides her face.] Why don't you? I'm not pretending! [Joy makes no sign.] Come, joy; you'll make yourself ill, and that won't help, will it? [But joy still makes no sign.]