SIR LYOLF. Why not? If her soul is swinging between heaven and hell, it would only be kind of you to give it a jog towards heaven. MICH. Very well--ask her. But I would rather you didn't speak lightly of---- SIR LYOLF. Of her soul? MICH. Of anyone's soul? SIR LYOLF. I won't--even of a woman's. But I wish they wouldn't swing about. Women's souls oughtn't to swing anywhere, except towards heaven. Ah, Michael, you must let me have my fling. Remember when I was a boy, religion was a very simple, easy-going affair. Parson--clerk--old three-decker pulpit--village choir. What a village choir! I suppose it was all wrong--but they were very comfortable old days. MICH. Religion is not simple--or easy-going. SIR LYOLF. No. Subtlety again. I want a plain "yes" or "no," a plain black or white, a plain right or wrong, and none of our teachers or preachers is prepared to give it to me. Oh dear! This world has grown too subtle for me! I'll step over to Island House and ask Mrs. Lesden to dinner to-morrow. MARK. I'll come with you and pay my respects to her. You don't mind, Michael? MICH. Not at all. I want to set Andrew to work at once to keep him from dwelling on his trouble. SIR LYOLF. I didn't come to the church this morning. I felt it would be too painful. (_Glancing up at portrait._) What would she have said about it? MICH. I think she approves what I have done. SIR LYOLF (_looks at portrait, sighs, turns away_). Come, Mr. Docwray. I can't say I like this Mrs. Lesden of yours--I wonder why I'm going to ask her to dinner. (_Exit._) MARK (_who has been looking intently at portrait_). What a wonderful portrait that is of your mother! It seems as if she were alive! MICH. She is. (_Exit MARK after SIR LYOLF._) MICH. (_goes up steps, takes portrait into his hand_). Yes, I have acted faithfully to my people, have I not? Whisper to me that I have done right to restore to this wandering father and child the blessing of a transparent life, a life without secrecy and without guile! Whisper to me that in this morning's work I have done what is well pleasing to my God and to you. _AUDRIE LESDEN, about thirty, in a very fashionable morning dress, enters at back of window in the opposite direction to that in which SIR LYOLF and MARK have gone off. At first she seems to be watching them off. When she gets to the open window, she turns and sees MICHAEL with the portrait in his hand. MICHAEL very reverently kisses the portrait and places it on table; as he does so he sees her._ MICH. Mrs. Lesden! AUDR. Wasn't that Sir Lyolf who just went out? MICH. Yes. I'll call him back---- AUDR. Please don't. MICH. But he wishes to speak to you. AUDR. I don't wish to speak to him. MICH. Why not? AUDR. I wish to speak to you. MICH. About what?