[_Striving to contain himself._] You drive me perfectly mad. You'll make me say things that I shall regret all my life. For Heaven's sake, go. JENNY. I shan't go till you come with me. BASIL. [_Beside himself._] I choose to remain. JENNY. What d'you mean? BASIL. Look here, until to-day I swear to you before God that I've never done anything or said anything that you couldn't have known. Do you believe me? JENNY. I don't believe that you're not in love with that woman. BASIL. I don't ask you to. JENNY. What! BASIL. I said, until to-day I've been absolutely faithful to you. Heaven knows, I've tried to do my duty. I've done all I could to make you happy. And I've struggled with all my might to love you. JENNY. Say it out if you've got anything to say, I'm not afraid to hear. BASIL. I don't wish to deceive you. It's best that you should know what has happened. JENNY. [_Scornfully._] Now for another thumping lie. BASIL. This afternoon I told Hilda I loved her.... And she loves me too. JENNY. [_With a cry of rage._] Oh! [_She hits at his face with her umbrella, but he wards the blow, and, snatching the umbrella from her, throws it away._ BASIL. You've brought it on yourself. You made me too unhappy. [JENNY, _panting and bewildered, stands helpless, trying to control herself_. BASIL. And now it's the end. The life we led was impossible. I tried to do something that was beyond my power. I'm going away. I can't and I won't live with you any longer. JENNY. [_Frightened at herself and at what he says._] Basil, you don't mean that? BASIL. I've struggled against it for months. And now I'm beaten. JENNY. You've got me to count with. I won't let you go. BASIL. [_Bitterly._] What more d'you want? Isn't it enough that you've ruined my whole life? JENNY. [_Hoarsely._] You don't love me? BASIL. I never loved you. JENNY. Why did you marry me? BASIL. Because you made me. JENNY. [_In a whisper._] You never loved me--even at the beginning? BASIL. Never. JENNY. Basil! BASIL. It's too late now to keep it in. I must tell you and have done with it. _You've_ been having it out for months--now it's my turn. JENNY. [_Going up to him and trying to put her arm round his neck._] But I love you, Basil. I'll make you love me. BASIL. [_Shrinking from her._] Don't touch me! JENNY. [_With a movement of despair._] I really think you loathe me. BASIL. For Heaven's sake, Jenny, let us finish with it. I'm very sorry. I don't wish to be unkind to you. But you must have seen that--that I didn't care for you. What's the good of going on humbugging, and pretending, and making ourselves utterly wretched? JENNY. Yes, I've seen it. But I wouldn't believe it. When I've put my hand on your shoulder, I've seen that you could hardly help shuddering. And sometimes when I've kissed you, I've seen you put out all your strength to prevent yourself from pushing me away.