“His violent opposition to America going in has been disgrace enough----” WHITE But his war profits were all right. Oh, yes. HILDA Let me finish, dear, since you want it. (_Reading_) “--been disgrace enough. But now that we’re in, I’m writing in the faint hope, if you are not too much under his influence, that you will persuade him to keep his mouth shut. This country will tolerate no difference of opinion now. You radicals had better get on board the band wagon. It’s prison or acceptance.” (_She stops reading._) He’s right, dear. There will be nothing more intolerant than a so-called democracy at war. WHITE By God! It’s superb! Silence for twenty years and now he writes his poor misguided sister for fear she will be further disgraced by her radical husband. HILDA We mustn’t descend to his bitterness. WHITE No: I suppose I should resuscitate the forgotten doctrine of forgiving my enemies. HILDA He’s not your enemy; he merely looks at it all differently. WHITE I was thinking of his calm contempt for me these twenty years--ever since you married me--“out of your class,” as he called it. HILDA Oh, hush, Will. I’ve been so happy with you I can bear him no ill will. Besides, doesn’t his attitude seem natural? You mustn’t forget that no man in this country has fought his class more than you. That hurts--especially coming from an _acquired_ relative. WHITE Yes; that aggravates the offense. And I’ll tell you something you may not know: (_Bitterly_) Whenever I’ve spoken against privilege and wealth it’s been his pudgy, comfortable face I’ve shaken my fist at. He’s been so damned comfortable all his life. HILDA (_She looks at him in surprise_) Why, Will, you surely don’t envy him his comfort, do you? I can’t make you out. What’s come over you these last weeks? You’ve always been above such personal bitterness; even when you were most condemned and ridiculed. If it were anybody but you I’d think you had done something you were ashamed of. WHITE What do you mean? HILDA Haven’t you sometimes noticed that is what bitterness to another means: a failure within oneself? (_He goes over to chair and sits without answering._) I can think of you beaten by outside things--that sort of failure we all meet; but somehow I can never think of you failing yourself. You’ve been so brave and self-reliant: you’ve fought so hard for the truth. WHITE (_Tapping letter_) But he thinks _he_ knows the truth, too. HILDA He’s also an intense nature. WHITE (_Thoughtfully after a pause_) Yet there is _some_ truth in what he says. HILDA (_Smiling_) But you didn’t like it--coming from him? WHITE It will be different with you and me now that America’s gone in. HILDA Yes. It will be harder for us here; for hate is always furthest from the trenches. But you and I are not the sort who would compromise to escape the persecution which is the resource of the non-combatant. (_The phone rings: he looks at his watch._) WHITE That’s for me. HILDA