SANDY (_brokenly_). Màiri, do not break my heart. Do not spurn me, as if I were a leper. Oh, Màiri, if you must send me away, once again, let us part as friends.... Why, oh why, did you not tell me yourself that you had grown tired of me? Why did you ask my mother to repeat your cruel words? MÀIRI. Your mother? My cruel words? I never gave any message to your mother. SANDY. Never gave.... Has my mother lied to me?... When I returned from my holiday and found you had gone, I was broken-hearted, and what I felt most and feel most is that you never even left a letter for me. If only you had, I should have been better able to bear it.... MÀIRI. I’ll just ask you one question before you go. What did you tell your mother to say to me? SANDY. Nothing! I never spoke to her about you after I told her we were engaged, until that black evening when she seared my soul with your message--the message she said you left for me. [_Màiri sinks in a chair, covers her eyes with her hand, and sobs._] SANDY. Màiri, Màiri, I love you more than ever. Forgive me if I have offended you! Have pity on me! I have never loved another. I will never love another. (_Kneels before her._) If you cannot love me, do not despise me. If you wish me to go away, do not let us part except as old friends. (_Entreatingly._) Màiri, speak to me, Màiri. [_Màiri suddenly takes his head in her hands and kisses his forehead._] SANDY. My love, I cannot leave you now. [_They gaze at one another in silence._] MÀIRI. Then it is not true that you wished to leave me? SANDY. No, no, Màiri. And it’s not true that you had grown tired of me? MÀIRI. Tired of you, Sandy? The heart of me has been hungering for you day and night since last we parted. [_Voices are heard outside._] SANDY. Your mother is coming. (_Looks through the window._) Heavens! my mother is with her. MÀIRI. Your mother?... Oh! let me hide myself. SANDY. I don’t wish to see her either. I shall never speak to her again. Where can we go? MÀIRI. To the kitchen. We can slip out after they come in here. [_Exit Sandy and Màiri. Enter Mrs Mackay supporting Mrs Speedwell, who is limping; she has met with an accident and is slightly hysterical._] WIDOW. Be sitting down, mem. Try to compose yourself. MRS S. Thank you, Mrs Mackay, you are so kind--oh! dear, dear, where is my son? WIDOW. He must have gone out to look at the scenery. He’ll soon be back, I’m sure. Just you settle down nicely now, mem. I’ll bathe your foot for you. I’ll better be putting the big kettle on the kitchen fire. (_Exit. Voices heard within_....) Are _you_ here, Màiri dear? And Mr Sandy, too? MRS S. (_starting_). Sandy and Màiri. Can it be?----