JANET All men notice those things, Hester. HESTER _(with a sneer)_ I suppose that’s why _you_ wear such fine clothes. JANET _(quite good-humoured)_ That’s it. Fine feathers make fine birds. HESTER Well, _I_ call it shameless. JANET My dear Hester, you’re always being ashamed of things. You always were, I remember. What is there to be ashamed of in that? What on earth were women given pretty faces and pretty figures for if not to make men admire them and want to marry them? HESTER _(acidly)_ Well, _your_ plan hasn’t been very successful so far, anyhow! JANET _(quietly)_ Nor has yours, Hester. [_Hester makes exclamation of impatience and seems about to reply angrily. Then thinks better of it and goes out without a word. Janet follows her retreat with her eyes and smiles half cynically, half compassionately. The Curtain falls._ ACT II _Scene:_ On the edge of Brendon Forest. _Time:_ three days later. A road runs along the hack of the stage front which it is separated by a fence and high hedge. In this hut somewhat to the right is a stile and also a gate. Round the trunk of a large tree to the left is a rough wooden seat. The stage is empty when the curtain rises. Fhen enter Mrs. De Mullin, Janet and Johnny. They approach stile from the left and come through gate. There isan exit on the right of the stage through the Forest. JANET I don’t think I’ll come any farther, mother. MRS. DE MULLIN You won’t come up to the house? JANET No, thanks _(rather grimly)_. I don’t want to see Mrs. Bulstead. And I’m sure Mrs. Bulstead doesn’t want to see me. MRS. DE MULLIN I wish Hester could have come. JANET Why couldn’t she? MRS. DE MULLIN She’s at the church putting up the decorations. It’s the Harvest Thanksgiving to-morrow. JANET _(laughing)_ Mr. Brown! MRS. DE MULLIN Janet, I told you you weren’t to laugh at Hester about Mr. Brown. It’s not kind. JANET _(lightly)_ It’s all right mother. Hester’s not here. MRS. DE MULLIN Still, I don’t like it, dear. It’s not quite... JANET _(soothing her)_ Not quite _nice_. I know, mother. Not the way really refined and ladylike young women talk. But I’m only quite a common person who sells hats. You can’t expect all these refinements from _me!_ [_Mrs. De Mullin sighs._ MRS. DE MULLIN Are you going to turn back? JANET Not at once. I’ll wait for you here a little with Johnny in case they’re out. Why, they’ve put a seat here. [_She sits on the side farthest from the road._ MRS. DE MULLIN Usen’t there to be one? JANET No. Nor a gate in my time. Only a stile. MRS. DE MULLIN Very likely, dear. I don’t remember. I don’t often come this way. JANET _(nods)_ I often used to come along it in the old days. MRS. DE MULLIN I dare say. Well, I must be getting on to my call or I shall be late. You’re sure you won’t come? JANET Quite, mother. Good-bye. [_Mrs. De Mullin goes of through the forest._ JOHNNY