When I remember—they’re talking upstairs (_she looks up, sees she is alone, listens again uneasily, and finally goes out through stairway, one hand up to her ear, her face expressing fright and curiosity_). [_Ida and William enter through the glass door: William is of middle height, strong, healthy-looking; fair hair, cut short; his clothes fit well without being foppish; overcoat, hat, satchel. His left arm is laid round Ida’s shoulders. She has her right arm thrown around him, and with gentle force is pushing him on._] IDA. You see now, you’re inside! The worst is over already. WILLIAM. Ah no! [_Sighs heavily._ IDA. You may believe me how very glad your mother is—and Gussie too. (_She pulls off his winter gloves_) Where did you get these from! WILLIAM. So you know my—mother now? IDA. All of them, dearest; we’re sworn friends already. WILLIAM. And how do you—like them? IDA. _Dear_ people, as you know very well. WILLIAM (_growing each moment more constrained and depressed, speaks as though to himself_). Extraordinary! (_his eyes catch sight of the Christmas tree, he immediately lowers them; starting involuntarily_). IDA. But, dearest, surely that’s not the first Christmas tree which you— WILLIAM. Yes, _here_, and you cannot possibly feel with me how—how—extraordinary—— IDA (_taking off his coat; he remains passive_). Please, please, Willy (_standing in front of him, his coat over her arm, his hat and satchel in her hand_), Willy, look at me! (_encouragingly_) straight—(_stands a moment drawn up to her full height, then puts the things quickly to one side, and comes back to William_). You have promised me! WILLIAM. Have you ever,—Ida,—have you ever seen a vaulted tomb hung with wreaths and— IDA (_shocked_). Oh William! (_quite beside herself, throws her arms about him_) that _is_ bad of you!—that is too bad! that is really too, _too_ bad of you! WILLIAM (_putting her gently from him with suppressed emotion_). All that means nothing, nothing at all. (_Coldly repelling her._) Be reasonable, be reasonable! IDA. Oh! what _is_ the matter with you! WILLIAM (_looking through the tree_). Everything else is as it used to be. Ida, you must really, really remember what this all means to me. IDA. I’m getting so frightened, Willy! Perhaps, after all, it would have been better to——Mother certainly did not know that it would be _so_ hard for you,—and I—I only thought—because mother said—it wasn’t that _I_ wished it—! But now, now that you’ve got so far, do—will you?—for my sake! Ah! (_putting her arms round him_). WILLIAM (_drawn a little further into the room by Ida’s embrace, with sighs of deep inward disturbance_). Every step forwards—what I have lived through in this very place! IDA. Only don’t stir that up! Don’t stir all that up! WILLIAM.