HARRY: Well, he'll be none too pleased when he gets up here and finds there was no reason for the stabbing! (_They wait for his footsteps,_ HARRY _annoyed,_ ADELAIDE _offended, but stealing worried looks at_ CLAIRE, _who is looking fixedly at the place in the floor where_ TOM _will appear.--Running footsteps._) TOM: (_his voice getting there before he does_) Yes, Claire--yes--yes--(_as his head appears_) What is it? CLAIRE: (_at once presenting him and answering his question_) My sister. TOM: (_gasping_) Oh,--why--is that all? I mean--how do you do? Pardon, I (_panting_) came up--rather hurriedly. HARRY: If you want to slap Claire, Tom, I for one have no objection. CLAIRE: Adelaide has the most interesting idea, Tom. She proposes that I take Elizabeth and roll her in the gutter. Just let her lie there until she breaks up into-- ADELAIDE: _Claire!_ I don't see how--even in fun--pretty vulgar fun--you can speak in those terms of a pure young girl. I'm beginning to think I had better take Elizabeth. CLAIRE: Oh, I've thought that all along. ADELAIDE: And I'm also beginning to suspect that--oddity may be just a way of shifting responsibility. CLAIRE: (_cordially interested in this possibility_) Now you know--that might be. ADELAIDE: A mother who does not love her own child! You are an unnatural woman, Claire. CLAIRE: Well, at least it saves me from being a natural one. ADELAIDE: Oh--I know, you think you have a great deal! But let me tell you, you've missed a great deal! You've never known the faintest stirring of a mother's love. CLAIRE: That's not true. HARRY: No. Claire loved our boy. CLAIRE: I'm glad he didn't live. HARRY: (_low_) Claire! CLAIRE: I loved him. Why should I want him to live? HARRY: Come, dear, I'm sorry I spoke of him--when you're not feeling well. CLAIRE: I'm feeling all right. _Just_ because I'm seeing something, it doesn't mean I'm sick. HARRY: Well, let's go down now. About dinner-time. I shouldn't wonder if Emmons were here. (_as ADELAIDE is starting down stairs_) Coming, Claire? CLAIRE: No. HARRY: But it's time to go down for dinner. CLAIRE: I'm not hungry. HARRY: But we have a guest. Two guests--Adelaide's staying too. CLAIRE: Then you're not alone. HARRY: But I invited Dr Emmons to meet you. CLAIRE: (_her smile flashing_) Tell him I am violent to-night. HARRY: Dearest--how can you joke about such things! CLAIRE: So you do think they're serious? HARRY: (_irritated_) No, I do not! But I want you to come down for dinner! ADELAIDE: Come, come, Claire; you know quite well this is not the sort of thing one does. CLAIRE: Why go on saying one doesn't, when you are seeing one does (_to_ TOM) Will you stay with me a while? I want to purify the tower. (ADELAIDE _begins to disappear_) HARRY: Fine time to choose for a _tête-à-tête. (as he is leaving_) I'd think more of you, Edgeworthy, if you refused to humour Claire in her ill-breeding.