No? DEAN. Not ten minutes ago I adopted precisely the same tactics with Clare and achieved precisely the same result. She’s searching for your worthless son at present. MRS. O’FARREL. Upon my word, I should never have credited you with so much sense! DEAN. My dear Eileen, I put down the tragedy of so many women’s lives—— (_Enter JOHN._) JOHN. (_Announcing._) Lady Patricia Cosway. (_Enter LADY PATRICIA. She is dressed in black from head to foot. JOHN goes out._) DEAN. (_Rising._) Lady Patricia, this is indeed an—— MRS. O’FARREL. No, Dean; it’s neither unexpected nor a pleasure. DEAN. I must really beg of you, Eileen! (_To PATRICIA._) Won’t you sit down? LADY PATRICIA. (_Who has been standing at the back in an attitude of majestic humility. She speaks with pleading dignity._) Do you refuse me your hand?... DEAN. (_At her side, and taking her black-gloved hand in both of his._) My dear lady! LADY PATRICIA. Ah.... You were always large-minded and gentle and tolerant.... Aunt Eileen.... MRS. O’FARREL. Well? LADY PATRICIA. They told me you were here, so I came out. I am determined to speak before you both. It was not what I had meant to do. I had hoped to lay bare my secret soul in secret to the Dean. Deliberately I have chosen the fiercer ordeal. For I expect and deserve no sympathy from you, no mercy, no forgiveness, no understanding.... MRS. O’FARREL. I think I understand you well enough, Patricia. LADY PATRICIA. But do you? Oh, do you? Can any one so sane and practical understand this living paradox? Can prose ever understand poetry? I am the refined essence of spirit and sense. I am a thing of fire and dew. I have in me the making of a great saint and a great courtesan.... DEAN. (_Hurriedly._) Yes, yes; we quite understand.... MRS. O’FARREL. Go ahead, Patricia. LADY PATRICIA. If you really understand, my task will be so much the easier! For understanding is the beginning of sympathy. And sympathy ends in forgiveness.... Dean, Aunt Eileen—will you be patient and listen to me for a moment? DEAN. Of course we will. But won’t you sit down? LADY PATRICIA. I should prefer to stand. MRS. O’FARREL. It’s more effective, Dean. LADY PATRICIA. What you overheard yesterday gave you only a crude outline of my tragedy and sin. All the colour, all the light and shadow were missing; and without these you are bound to misjudge me.... Ah! don’t believe for a moment I am seeking to justify myself! No! No! There _can_ be no real justification for my sin.... But I _do_ want your understanding—I _do_ want your pity—I _do_ want your pardon. And from you, Dean, I have come for punishment—for penance—— MRS. O’FARREL. Hand her over to Baldwin. LADY PATRICIA. Baldwin? DEAN. Eileen! I beg of you! LADY PATRICIA.