Funny? No, oh no! I see a certain ironical humour in such banal intervention. But it’s far too mysterious to be called funny. After that I struggled no more against the stream. I drifted; I was carried down the great ocean of love. But I never once faltered in my high resolve to keep that ocean pure, and—— MRS. O’FARREL. Ocean? What ocean? LADY PATRICIA. The ocean of love. MRS. O’FARREL. Sorry; my fault. LADY PATRICIA. To keep that ocean pure, and come what might, to shield Michael from the least suspicion that his wonderful love was not returned. Deceit? Oh, yes! But surely, surely deceit is justified when the alternative means—death! DEAN. Death! Dear me! MRS. O’FARREL. Do you really think poor Michael would succumb if he learned the dreadful truth? LADY PATRICIA. I know it. Have you ever seen such devotion as his? MRS. O’FARREL. It’s certainly remarkable.... DEAN. (_Briskly._) Now, Lady Patricia, are you prepared to put yourself unreservedly in my hands? LADY PATRICIA. I am. DEAN. Then I shall require two things of you. Firstly, that you break off these relations with young O’Farrel. LADY PATRICIA. I have determined on that already. I won’t speak of the suffering it will cause _me_. I have merited suffering and will bear it in silence. But when I think of him——! My poor, poor boy! What is to become of him without me?... Oh, you are his mother—can you devise no means of softening this blow for him? MRS. O’FARREL. (_Reverently._) I think we may safely leave that in the hands of Providence. DEAN. I quite share your opinion. Secondly, Lady Patricia, I wish you to tell your husband everything. LADY PATRICIA. (_Genuinely startled._) Michael! DEAN. Everything. LADY PATRICIA. (_Very much in earnest._) No—no. It’s impossible. I could never think of doing that. DEAN. You said just now you would place yourself unreservedly in my hands. LADY PATRICIA. But I never dreamt you intended to punish the innocent for my sin. Why should Michael’s life and happiness be blighted because I’ve strayed from righteousness? MRS. O’FARREL. I think it’s just possible Michael may survive the shock. LADY PATRICIA. And I know that it will kill him. It’s impossible! DEAN. (_Sternly._) I insist. LADY PATRICIA. And I refuse. MRS. O’FARREL. That brings _me_ into the fray! The Dean, as your confessor, no doubt considers himself bound to keep your story secret. I don’t. So look here, Patricia; unless you make a clean breast of this to Michael, I shall go to him with it myself. LADY PATRICIA. You! MRS. O’FARREL. I. LADY PATRICIA. No! No! I don’t believe you’re capable of such infamy. MRS. O’FARREL. Oh, yes I am. LADY PATRICIA. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it! It would be too cruel and wicked! Aunt Eileen, for pity’s sake—— MRS. O’FARREL.