MICH. (_looks at her_). No boat will come to-night. (_Looks at her more intently._) No boat will come to-night! (_They stand looking at each other._) VERY SLOW CURTAIN. (_Two nights and a day--from Wednesday evening to Friday morning--pass between Acts II. and III._) ACT III SCENE.--_The Vicarage parlour, as in first act. Morning. Enter MICHAEL, haggard, troubled, with self-absorbed expression, the expression of a man trying to realize that he has committed a great and irrevocable sin; he stands for some moments helpless, dreamy, as if unconscious of his whereabouts; then looks round; his eyes fall upon his mother's picture, he shudders a little, shows intense pain. At length he goes up the steps, takes the picture down, places it on the floor with its face against the wall, carefully avoiding all the while to look at it. He then moves to table in the same dreamy, helpless, self-absorbed state, sits, looks in front of him. Enter ANDREW, comes up behind him._ MICH. Oh, Andrew---- Well? ANDR. (_coming up to him_). I want to consult you on that passage in the Arabic--if you can spare the time. MICH. Bring the manuscripts here. (_MICHAEL unconsciously looks at his hands._) What are you looking at? ANDR. Nothing. Your hands are blistered? MICH. I did a little rowing--the other day. Bring the manuscripts. (_ANDREW goes to door._) MICH. Andrew--(ANDREW _stops_)--I was very restless--did you hear me stirring in the night? ANDR. Stirring? MICH. Yes, I couldn't sleep. I got up about one and went out--walked about for some hours--it was nearly light when I came in again. Did you hear me? ANDR. (_pauses, then answers_). No. (_Is about to go off at right door when FANNY enters left. He stops._) FANNY. Mrs. Lesden wishes to see you for a minute or two about one of her cottagers. (_ANDREW watches MICHAEL keenly, but unobtrusively._) MICH. (_after a little start of surprise, in a tone of affected carelessness_). Show her in. (_Exit ANDREW, right. Exit FANNY, left. MICHAEL rises, shows great perturbation, walks about, watches the door for her entrance._) _Re-enter FANNY, left, showing in AUDRIE._ FANNY. Mrs. Lesden. (_Exit FANNY. MICHAEL and AUDRIE stand looking at each other for some seconds; then he goes to her, takes her hand, kisses it with great reverence, motions her to a chair; she sits. He holds out to her the palms of his hands with a rueful smile, shows they are much blistered as if with rowing._) AUDR. Poor hands! MICH. I'm not used to rowing. (_Pause._) AUDR. I didn't thank you. MICH. Thank me! AUDR. (_pause_). Wasn't it a terrible voyage, terrible and delightful? But we ought to have been drowned together! MICH. Oh, don't say that--in sin! To be lost in sin! AUDR. I'd rather be lost with you than saved with anyone else. MICH. You mustn't speak like this---- AUDR. It won't be right, you know, unless we are lost or saved together, will it? MICH. Hush! Hush! (_Pause._) AUDR. You're sorry? MICH. No. And you?