MRS. BEN DIXON. I tempted you? MR. BEN DIXON. You, Bella. I do not blame you. You loved me--at least you said you did--and you dangled your purse before me. I thought of all the good that I could do to others with your money. I always do think of others--it is my weakness. I sacrificed myself for the good of humanity. MRS. BEN DIXON. (_Too staggered for words_). Well, I'm---- MRS. WHEEDLES. You never thought of poor _me_, Henery. MR. BEN DIXON. (_With an air of sweet sadness._) Not think of you, Gertrude? Ah, how often have I not longed to seek you--to come to you with outstretched arms and say, "Gertrude, let us forgive and forget, let us be happy again as we were in the dear old days gone by." (_Stifles a sob._) MRS. BEN DIXON. Why didn't you do it? MR. BEN DIXON. My dear Bella, do not interrupt. There were reasons rendering it necessary for me to control my longing--you were one of them. MRS. WHEEDLES. And did you never think of what had become of me--of how I was getting on? MR. BEN DIXON. Do you think I could have lived a moment in doubt? I made enquiries. They told me you were well and---- MRS. BEN DIXON. You said just now they told you she was dead. MR. BEN DIXON. (_Irritably._) My good woman, do be quiet. I'm not addressing you. I'm talking to my wife. MRS. WHEEDLES. Do let the man explain. MRS. BEN DIXON. Explain! And do you mean to say you're going to be fool enough to listen to him--you poor ninny-hammer? MRS. WHEEDLES. (_Bridling._) Don't you call me names, ma'am. I'm a respectable married woman, which is more than some people are. MRS. BEN DIXON And whose fault if they're not, I should like to know? Why couldn't you keep him when you'd got him?--not let him loose to prey on poor fools like me. MRS. WHEEDLES. Why did you come with your arts and your tricks and lure him away, ma'am? MRS. BEN DIXON. I! I lure away _that!_ You silly old woman! MRS. WHEEDLES. No more a silly old woman than you are, ma'am. He was a loving Christian husband till you came between us with your painted face. MRS. BEN DIXON. (_Close to her._) You say I paint my face, and I'll pull your false front off. MR. BEN DIXON. (_He has hitherto remained standing between them in an attitude expressive of pious indifference, his finger-tips pressed against each other._) Ladies! ladies! MRS. BEN DIXON. (_Turns fiercely on him._) You be quiet (_he skips out of her way_), and keep your breath to bamboozle that poor fool with. You take him back again, my dear, you haven't had enough of him as yet. I shan't interfere I am only too glad to be rid of him. Only if he makes a fool of you a second time, don't you come to me for sympathy. I've done with you both, and I've done with respectability. I've paid enough for being a prude. For the future give me something wholesome and disreputable. (_She sweeps out by door at back which she slams behind her._) MRS. WHEEDLES. (_Calling after her_.) Hussy! MR. BEN DIXON.