FORESTER (_while_ SOPHY _steps out of_ MARY'S _room_). What have you still to do outside? [_Looks about him_.] WILLIAM. In the garden, father. Mother, there was nothing in the arbor. SOPHY (_remains at the door_). Then somebody must have brought it in. [_To the_ FORESTER.] Are you looking for anything? FORESTER. I? No. Yes, the rifle with the yellow strap. Where can that be? Perhaps in Mary's-- SOPHY (_involuntarily covering the door, quickly_). There is no rifle in Mary's room. WILLIAM. To be sure, Andrew took it along when he went to accompany me. FORESTER. True. [_Shows the muffler_.] There, I have somebody's muffler in my pocket! Is it yours, William? SOPHY. The red and yellow muffler? That belongs to Andrew. FORESTER. He left it around yesterday, and absentmindedly I must have put it in my pocket. SOPHY. Yesterday? Only today, before you went, I gave it to him. FORESTER. You gave it to--all right! SOPHY (_comes nearer_). Yes, yes. That is Andrew's muffler. [_She examines it_.] Here is his monogram. FORESTER (_wishes to take it from her_). Give it to me. SOPHY. It is wet!--And what blood is that upon the muffler? FORESTER. Blood? [_Suppresses his emotion_.] It's from my hand. I cut it on the lock of the gun. Never mind! SOPHY (_busies herself on the other side of the stage_). FORESTER. William, come here. Read to me. There in the Bible, begin where the book-mark is. WILLIAM. In the middle of the chapter? FORESTER. Beginning at the mark there. Go on! [_Gets his hat_.] WILLIAM (_reads_). "And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall--" FORESTER. That isn't it. [_Hangs the gun over his shoulder_.] WILLIAM. "And he that killeth any man"--is that it? FORESTER (_profoundly moved, comes a step nearer_). No--but go on reading. [_He stands next to_ WILLIAM. _During the following he involuntarily takes off his hat, and folds his hands_.] WILLIAM. "And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. And if a man cause a blemish on his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death." FORESTER. He shall be put to death. WILLIAM. "Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God." FORESTER. Amen. [_Puts on his hat and is about to go; turns back_.] When did she say they might be there, William? [Illustration: SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD JACOB AND RACHEL AT THE WELL] WILLIAM. The soldiers? FORESTER. Before-- WILLIAM. Before one o'clock. FORESTER. There's time enough. WILLIAM. For what, father? FORESTER. For--getting a sound sleep. WILLIAM. Father, how strangely you look at me? FORESTER. Go to bed, William.