LADY PATRICIA. Dear, inarticulate boy!... And, Bill, remember this. We have put our hands to the plough, and there must be no turning back. The martyrdom which must be lifelong has only just begun. I feel I shall find strength to play my bitter rôle to the final curtain. For I love renunciation, endurance, and purity. They are such exquisite virtues. And virtue is very beautiful.... But you are made of more earthly materials, my poor boy. Do you realise that your love must always remain unsatisfied? Can you love me without the faintest hope of more reward than a look, a touch, a kiss?... BILL. That’s all right, Patricia. Don’t you worry about me. LADY PATRICIA. But you are young and vigorous and passionate.... BILL. That’s all right! LADY PATRICIA. I can only offer you the shadow; your nature will some day cry out for the substance. BILL. Not it! LADY PATRICIA. Ah, if only I had the strength and courage to bid you good-bye for ever! BILL. I shouldn’t go. LADY PATRICIA. Ah, Bill!... (_She invites his caress with a beautiful movement. Kneeling beside her, he gathers her in his arms and kisses her. At that moment BALDWIN enters, carrying a saw and a pair of shears. They are blissfully unconscious of his presence. He glances at them with complete indifference, then comes down looking carefully at the sky on the right, his head dodging from side to side as though he were spying for something among the branches._) BALDWIN. If you please, ’m.... (_BILL, with an inarticulate cry, starts to his feet._) BILL. What the devil are you doing here? LADY PATRICIA. (_Calmly._) Well, Baldwin? BALDWIN. If you please, m’lady, I thought as I ’ad best watch the sun early. It’s close on six ’m, and I thought as p’raps you’d like some branches lopped ’igher up. The sun’s a fine sight at six, mum—much more light in it than a hour later, an’ it’s a neasier job loppin’ they ’igher branches than them out there, as I shan’t need no ladder. BILL. Quite mad! LADY PATRICIA. I don’t want to sit here and look at the sun through a pair of smoked glasses. You may return here when the sun is lower. BALDWIN. Yes, m’lady. But—— LADY PATRICIA. Go away.... BALDWIN. Yes, ’m. (_He goes out._) LADY PATRICIA. Very tiresome, isn’t he? BILL. I don’t half like the old ass catching us like that. LADY PATRICIA. Catching us? BILL. Yes, fairly caught us in the act.... LADY PATRICIA. Bill! BILL. Well, he must have seen me kiss you. I don’t half like it. LADY PATRICIA. How very _bourgeois_ you are! BILL. Well, I don’t know about that. But—— LADY PATRICIA.