O’C. You crossed mine at a critical time. I was twenty and riding straight for the cliff. If you’d followed up your success and married me there’d be no auction to-day. PEGGY. If! O’C. You needn’t have drawn my attention to that “if.” I know all about it. My whole life has been a series of “ifs.” If an old woman hadn’t put out her washing on a certain day, I wouldn’t have been an orphan at three years old. If a gust of wind hadn’t blown her washing across the road, my father’s horse would have trotted on home.... PEGGY. Stop, Hugh! Please. I know the rest. O’C. If they’d kept the news from mother for three days she might have survived the shock, and so might the infant brother.... PEGGY. Hugh! O’C. If I hadn’t missed a train by two seconds I’d have a profession to-day. If Uncle Hugh hadn’t run to catch a train by two seconds, he’d be in Rush Hill and no auction to-day. PEGGY. You’re only reciting every man’s story, Hugh ... and many a woman’s. O’C. It’s all blind and stupid and insolent. But one needn’t quarrel with such despotism. I’m going, Peggy. If I don’t see you again--good luck, good health, and good-bye. [_He is going off left._] PEGGY. A moment, Hugh. Here’s a clean collar. You look ghastly without a collar. O’C. [_turns back_]. Gad, but that’s just like you, Peggy!... They say it’s unlucky to turn back, but I think I can risk it. [_Putting on collar_] This is like dressing a man before he goes out to be hanged. PEGGY. I’ll get you a clean handkerchief. [_She gets one, rolls the jewellery in it and puts it in his pocket._] O’C. Sing something, Peggy. PEGGY. I don’t feel that way inclined. Sing something yourself. O’C [_sings_]. “Down by the salley gardens, my love and I did meet....” PEGGY. Hugh O’Cahan, are you mad? O’C. No, nor sad. You challenged me to sing. PEGGY. God knows how men are built! I think if I were in your shoes this morning I should drown myself. O’C. A lot of good that would do. The old world would go on spinning as before. I don’t suppose they’d postpone the auction [_putting on the tie_]. I believe a great many people ought to be drowned at baptism, Peggy. It’s about their only chance of ever seeing the gates of heaven, and ’twould save a lot of trouble down here later on. But there’s no sense in letting a fellow grow up wild and then expect him to take a near cut to the everlasting devil. I prefer Australia. PEGGY. Don’t talk wild, Hugh. You know I didn’t mean it. O’C. Are you getting afraid I might take a dip? You needn’t. I’ll die in my own comfortable bed at 103, surrounded by--that’ll depend on what I have to leave the watchers. No cash--no tears, no prayers, no flowers.... How does this collar and tie sit me? PEGGY. All right. They improve you. O’C. Well, thank you for them very much. I’m off. Vale. [_He goes out left, singing_] “She told me to take life easy, as the leaves grow on the tree....”