AUDR. I shall get Hannaford to row me over some day. Don't look alarmed. I won't come when you are there. I should frighten all your good angels away. (_MICHAEL shows a little impatience._) You want to get rid of me. (_Going, suddenly turns._) If I come to you as a penitent, you won't send me away? MICH. Not if I can be of service to you. AUDR. I seem to have changed my nature since I came into this room. MICH. How? AUDR. I don't know. I wonder how many natures I have and how often I can change them. MICH. I wish you wouldn't speak like that. AUDR. I won't. (_Very seriously._) You said just now that I was playing with sacred things. I am, or I was until you spoke about her. (_With warning._) Don't let me play with your soul. MICH. I don't understand you. AUDR. You may do me good, but I am far more likely to do you harm. MICH. How? AUDR. I'm not nearly so good a woman as you are a man. MICH. But perhaps I may influence you for good. AUDR. Do you think that you can have any influence on my soul without my having an equal influence on yours? MICH. Action and re-action are equal and opposite. You think that law prevails in the spiritual world as well as in the material world? AUDR. I'm sure it does. So let me go. MICH. (_suddenly, with great feeling_). Oh, if I could save you! AUDR. You can if you will. I would try so hard if you would only help me. But you don't believe that I can. MICH. What makes you say that? AUDR. You called me a bad angel--and you don't think me good enough to kiss her. (_Sidling up to the steps; he makes a deprecating movement to prevent her, but she takes no notice._) If you knew it would give me a splendid impulse to goodness, would you refuse me? (_She watches him very closely; he watches her, half deprecating, half consenting; she goes up a step or two; he again makes a deprecating gesture, but does not stop her._) Can't you see what an awful effect it would have on me if you thought me worthy to be in the company of your good angel? It would be almost a sacrament! (_Going up steps. He makes a stronger gesture of deprecation._) Ah, you think I'm not worthy---- MICH. No, no---- AUDR. (_on top of steps, very seductively_). Do save me. I'm worth saving. (_Whispers._) I may kiss her? I may? I may? (_He does not reply. She very reverently takes the picture from the wall, turns round, kisses it reverently, hangs it up again, comes down slowly to him._) Your bad angel has kissed your good angel. (_A mock curtsey to him._) (_Exit softly. MICHAEL stands troubled._) CURTAIN. (_Four months pass between Acts I. and II._) ACT II