That’s not the same thing. BILL. Then you don’t love me? CLARE. I never said so. BILL. Do you love me, Clare? CLARE. I should never have kissed you if I didn’t. BILL. Clare! (_Tries to take her in his arms._) CLARE. (_Decidedly._) No.... BILL. No?... CLARE. I am not free. BILL. Not ... free.... Then you’re—you’re—engaged? CLARE. No. BILL. No?... But—— CLARE. I am not free. BILL. But you’re _not_ engaged? CLARE. No. BILL. Clare! You don’t mean—you can’t mean that you are married?... CLARE. Married? BILL. Yes—married! CLARE. Don’t be silly. BILL. That’s no answer. Are you married? CLARE. Of course I’m not. BILL. You’re neither engaged nor married—but you’re not free to marry me. What does it all mean? CLARE. You must be content with that. BILL. Must I? Then you don’t know me. I’ll give you no rest—I’ll persecute you night and day till I get at the truth. CLARE. (_After a pause._) You may be right, Bill; perhaps I do owe you an explanation since I allowed you to kiss me.... BILL. And kissed me.... CLARE. (_Tragically._) I belong to another man.... BILL. But you said just now—— CLARE. Whom I can never marry.... BILL. What! CLARE. Because he is already married. BILL. (_Horrified._) Clare! you—you—— CLARE. (_Loftily._) Our bond is purely of the spirit. BILL. Eh? CLARE. (_Unconsciously imitating MICHAEL’S manner._) He is a noble and high-souled gentleman. His life is one long self-sacrifice for the woman whom he married. She loves him, and for her sake he fought against his love for me. But that love mastered him: he confessed it. I told him it was returned, though I know now it was the pity and friendship I felt for him which I mistook for love. We promised to be true to each other. I cannot—I dare not break my promise. My love is all he has to make life bearable.... (_BILL is about to speak when LADY PATRICIA’S voice, singing in the distance, brings him up with a jerk. He listens a moment. When he speaks his tone is one of dismay._) BILL. Great—Scott! CLARE. (_Coldly._) I beg your pardon? BILL. I say, Clare, d’you know I’ve made an ass of myself in just the same way as you! CLARE. An ass?... Will you kindly explain yourself. BILL. I had no right to tell you I loved you, because I am bound to another woman. CLARE. Not—not to a married woman? BILL. A married woman.... CLARE. Oh, how dreadful! BILL. Our bond is purely of the spirit. CLARE. Oh?... What is she like? BILL. Noble and high-souled like your—— CLARE. Is she pretty? BILL. Oh, yes, she—— CLARE. Did you love her? BILL. Till I met you five weeks ago I believe I did. Then I—— Anyhow, I’m afraid I’ll have to stick to her. If I threw her over now I don’t know what the poor woman would do. CLARE. You have a pretty high notion of your attractions. BILL. And you of yours. CLARE. You appear to forget that I am a woman.