FRASER. [_Advancing to_ MRS. CLOYS, _hesitatingly, uncomfortably—lowering his voice_.] I can’t deny that I have behaved in a very poor fashion to Theophila—— JUSTINA. [_Looking into the garden._] Deny it! no! FRASER. [_Turning to_ JUSTINA.] Please——! [_To_ MRS. CLOYS.] But you, Mrs. Cloys, have just admitted to me that, up till last night, your feelings towards her were at least as unjust as my own. MRS. CLOYS. Ah, I hope your contrition, now that the facts are known to us, is as sincere and as deep as mine, Mr. Fraser. JUSTINA. Oh, how miserable he looks! MRS. CLOYS. Who? JUSTINA. Jack Allingham. [_She goes out, and disappears._ FRASER. [_Walking about angrily._] There he is again! MRS. CLOYS. He has every right to be here. FRASER. It’s in curious taste. MRS. CLOYS. I don’t see that. He feels called upon to remain here to protect his wife. He might say, with equal reason—— FRASER. Hardly. He can take _his_ wife away, and protect her elsewhere. But I am helpless. You tell me it is a question whether Theophila ought to be moved to-day or not—— MRS. CLOYS. [_Referring to her watch._] Dr. Erskine will decide very shortly. FRASER. So, for how long, in heaven’s name, am I to endure Mr. Allingham? The fellow puts himself in my way. If I walk in the garden, he appears, indoors, at a window, and coughs in a menacing fashion. When I enter the house the proceedings are but slightly varied—I am inside; Allingham and his cough outside. MRS. CLOYS. I find him a simple-minded, boyish young man. FRASER. [_Looking through the balustrade into the library._] Do you? MRS. CLOYS. After all, the conspiracy he assisted at—for which I can never forgive him—was carried out, on his part, in perfect good faith to Theophila. FRASER. His share in it is singularly discreditable. MRS. CLOYS. [_Rising._] You and I must remember that it is through this discreditable act that we are able to do justice to your wife. [JUSTINA _re-enters, at the window_.] Is Mr. Allingham there? JUSTINA. Yes, aunt. MRS. CLOYS. [_To_ FRASER.] I assume you are anxious to avoid any open quarrel with Mr. Allingham? FRASER.