tears up the letter in little pieces, watches them burn._) It's done! I've conquered! Now I shall be at peace. (_Sits himself resolutely at table, reads. A little tap at the door, he shows surprise; the tap is repeated, he rises, goes to door, opens it. At that moment AUDRIE'S face appears at the right-hand window for a moment. He looks out, stays there a moment or two, closes door, seats himself again at table, reads. The tap is repeated; he rises, AUDRIE appears at door, he shows a moment of intense delight which he quickly subdues._) AUDR. May I come in? (_Pause._) You are busy--I'll go-- MICH. No--(_She stops on threshold._) Come in. _She enters. He stands motionless at table. Sunset without. It gradually grows darker._ MICH. What brings you here? AUDR. You did not expect me. You aren't accustomed to entertain angels unawares--even bad ones. MICH. (_his voice thick and a little hoarse_). Your boat, your companions? AUDR. I have no boat, and no companions. MICH. (_horrified, delighted_). You're alone? AUDR. Quite alone. MICH. How did you come here? AUDR. By the simplest and most prosaic means in the world. This morning I took the train to Lowburnham to do some shopping. As I was coming back to the station, a boy put this little handbill into my hand. (_Showing a little yellow handbill._) Afternoon excursion to Saint Decuman's and Saint Margaret's Isles. I had an impulse--I obeyed it. I telegraphed to Cleveheddon for a boat to meet me here at six--(_takes out watch_)--it only wants ten minutes--and took the excursion steamer. They all landed here for half-an-hour. I hid myself till after the steamer had gone. Then I came up here to your cottage. I heard some voices, so I hid again--who was here? MICH. Only my secretary and my uncle Ned. AUDR. The Catholic priest. I saw a boat leaving--it was they? MICH. Yes. AUDR. They're not coming back? MICH. No. AUDR. You're annoyed with me for coming? MICH. No, but wasn't it a little--imprudent? AUDR. Oh, I must do mad things sometimes, just to preserve my general balance of sanity. Besides, my boat will be here in ten minutes. (_Pause._) AUDR. How strange we should be here alone! MICH. The only two beings on this island--we two! AUDR. And our two souls. MICH. I wish you wouldn't jest with sacred things. AUDR. I won't. (_Suddenly, impulsively._) I want to be good! Help me to be good! You think I'm foolish and light and frivolous! Well, perhaps I am, but when I'm with you I'm capable of anything, anything--except being an ordinary, average, good woman. MICH. But isn't that all that is required of a woman? AUDR. Perhaps. It's rather a damnable heritage, isn't it? And I'm not a barn-door fowl. MICH. What are you?