I did indeed! It was simply because you were of a fickle nature. Of course you didn’t have the courage to explain _that_. MRS. BRIGGS (_with great emotion_) But you don’t know the pressure, the awful pressure my mother brought to bear on me. She simply _made_ me marry him, Henry. It was night and day, day and night, week in, week out-- INGOLDSBY And you never for one moment had the simple bravery, the simple _loyalty_ to the man you’d given your word to-- MRS. BRIGGS I was worn out. I was-- INGOLDSBY You didn’t care enough for me to-- MRS. BRIGGS I _did_! INGOLDSBY No! No! No! MRS. BRIGGS (_piteously_) Henry, you _must_ listen to me! (_She puts her hand on his arm._) INGOLDSBY (_moving away from her_) Why didn’t you say that _then_? Why didn’t-- MRS. BRIGGS I loved you--I did, Henry! I simply let my mother break my will and wreck our two lives. INGOLDSBY What folly! You were perfectly happy with Briggs. I don’t know _how_ many people told me you were. MRS. BRIGGS I did my duty, and I tried to do it cheerfully; but the scar was always there, Henry. INGOLDSBY (_harshly_) I don’t believe it! MRS. BRIGGS (_plaintively_) It was, Henry. (_She sinks into the chair Jessie has occupied._) INGOLDSBY (_swallowing_) What? MRS. BRIGGS (_feebly_) It was, Henry--the scar was always there. (_Her head droops._) (_He walks across the room, then returns to her and looks down upon her._) INGOLDSBY (_swallowing_) Do you know what my life has been? MRS. BRIGGS (_tremulously, not looking up_) I--I heard you became very--very prosperous in--in real estate. INGOLDSBY Yes. What’s that to fill a man’s life? Look at the difference! You have children to be a comfort to you in your--your--as you approach middle age. I have nothing. MRS. BRIGGS (_pathetically, still looking down_) Oh, I’m sure you have something. INGOLDSBY I tell you I have nothing--nothing in the world to make life worth living, not a thing on earth! (_He glances about, then sits beside her and speaks in a very low voice._) Fannie--Fannie-- (_The settee approaches a little nearer._) MRS. BRIGGS (_also in a very low voice_) Well? INGOLDSBY Fannie--I--I--Fannie--I-- (_His emotion is difficult to control and his voice fades out into a murmur of several slight incoherent sounds, whereupon the settee again moves slightly closer._) MRS. BRIGGS Yes, Henry? INGOLDSBY You said your life was wrecked, though you bore it dutifully and--and cheerfully. Mine--_my_ life--it was withered! MRS. BRIGGS (_murmuring_) Oh--Henry! INGOLDSBY But, after all, our lives aren’t over. MRS. BRIGGS (_shaking her down-bent head and protesting in a weak voice_) Oh, no, no! Don’t begin to talk that way. INGOLDSBY Fannie, I never got over it. As time went on, I took up my work and tried to do my part in the world, but--but I never got over it, Fannie. I’m not over it now.