JOHN. You mean that? OLIVE. If ever I meant anything in my life. JOHN. [_Referring to the letter._] “I shall plant myself at some quiet spot near your cottage——” OLIVE. Ah, no! never mind the quiet spot near the cottage. Why can’t you have your business interview here? JOHN. Here? OLIVE. [_In a low voice, her head drooping._] Where we are now, while I—[_glancing towards the library_]—while I take my place in there? [_There is a pause; he stands looking at her for a moment silently._ JOHN. And this is how you propose to carry out your undertaking to make amends to Mrs. Fraser? [_He turns away from her._ OLIVE. Everything is altered since—since—— JOHN. Since we were reconciled! reconciled! OLIVE. Since I promised to aid Mrs. Fraser. The arrival of these people—that letter—has undone everything. [_Throwing herself upon the settee despairingly._] Oh, they knew well enough where their bird would fly to! [_Burying her face in the pillows._] Oh, John, you’ll kill me! JOHN. Ha! and so you would like to try Mrs. Fraser twice in one day! And there would be no mistake this time, no doubt whatever! Innocent or Guilty—guilty for choice! OLIVE. No, no, innocent. But I want to be satisfied. Only satisfy me? JOHN. Satisfy you! My heavens! OLIVE. Satisfy me! satisfy me! JOHN. And what a model judge of this lady you would make, of any woman you are jealous of! How scrupulously fair! how impartial! how—— OLIVE. I would be just, John; I would be! JOHN. [_Savagely taking a cigarette from the box on the table and sticking it between his teeth._] Women of your temperament detect a leer in the smile of a wax doll. OLIVE. I give you my word that I will make every allowance for you both, if you will let me hear you together. You _are_ old friends—“chums” was her expression for it in the witness-box to-day—and you are Jack and Theo to each other, naturally; I am prepared for all that kind of thing. She can kiss you good-bye when she parts from you—[_beating her brow_]—I can comprehend even _that_. Only—only let me be satisfied by her general tone and bearing, by that unmistakable ring in the voice, that she has never been the arrant little profligate I once thought her. [JOHN _now sitting staring at the carpet and chewing the end of his cigarette_.