[_Moving away from him; then, after a brief pause._] No, thank you, Alec. FRASER. [_Staring at her._] No——? THEOPHILA. I’d rather not, now. FRASER. Why not? THEOPHILA. Things are different. FRASER. In what way? THEOPHILA. _I_ feel very different. When I asked you yesterday afternoon to lend me a helping hand I was asking for my right. It’s true we haven’t got on well together; you’ve been in one place, I in another, for more than half our married life. It’s true I’ve been miserable and lonely, and have told my tale often enough to him—Mr. Allingham—— FRASER. [_Between his teeth._] Yes, yes. THEOPHILA. But, throughout everything, I’ve never been disloyal to you; I’ve always been fair to you when speaking of you behind your back; though I’ve hated you sometimes, I wouldn’t have let a living soul say a word against you in my presence. This is truth, Oh, I know I’ve been vilely brought up! ’Tina and I are vulgar and slangy, and generally bad form; and we were once what’s called “fast,” I suppose. But our fastness didn’t amount to much; it was only flirting, and giggling, and dodging mother, and getting lost in conservatories and gardens. Oh, what fools girls are! No, till yesterday I’ve been only silly—silly—nothing but silly—till last night——! till last night——! FRASER. [_Rising and pacing the room._] You were no more yourself last night than I was _myself_ yesterday afternoon! THEOPHILA. [_Sitting upright._] Who says I was not myself? It _was_ myself, the dregs of myself, that came to the top last night! FRASER. The—the—circumstances—under which you—you behaved as you did—— THEOPHILA. [_Hiding her face in the pillows._] Oh, don’t remind me of it! FRASER. I mean, you were weak—ill—— THEOPHILA. You mean nothing of the sort ... oh-h-h-h, how horrid I must have looked...! FRASER. They were mere words you were speaking—— THEOPHILA. It was _me_—_me_! FRASER. Surely, if I see no reason why you should not claim my help——? THEOPHILA. I see a reason—that’s enough. I repeat, what I asked of you yesterday was my right, my right. But to-day—to-day it would be accepting a favour from you—— FRASER. Favour! THEOPHILA.