HOLROYD (_turning to her_) What? [_She puts up her hands before her face. Blackmore seizes the upraised arm and swings Holroyd round._ BLACKMORE (_in a towering passion_) Mind what tha'rt doing! HOLROYD (_turning fiercely on him--incoherent_) Wha'--wha'--! [_He aims a heavy blow. Blackmore evades it, so that he is struck on the side of the chest. Suddenly he shows his teeth. He raises his fists ready to strike Holroyd when the latter stands to advantage._ MRS. HOLROYD (_rushing upon Blackmore_) No, no! Oh, no! [_She flies and opens the door, and goes out. Blackmore glances after her, then at Holroyd, who is preparing, like a bull, for another charge. The young man's face lights up._ HOLROYD Wha'--wha'--! [_As he advances, Blackmore quickly retreats out-of-doors. Holroyd plunges upon him. Blackmore slips behind the door-jamb, puts out his foot, and trips Holroyd with a crash upon the brick yard._ MRS. HOLROYD Oh, what has he done to himself? BLACKMORE (_thickly_) Tumbled over himself. [_Holroyd is seen struggling to rise, and is heard incoherently cursing._ MRS. HOLROYD Aren't you going to get him up? BLACKMORE What for? MRS. HOLROYD But what shall we do? BLACKMORE Let him go to hell. [_Holroyd, who had subsided, begins to snarl and struggle again._ MRS. HOLROYD (_in terror_) He's getting up. BLACKMORE All right, let him. [_Mrs. Holroyd looks at Blackmore, suddenly afraid of him also._ HOLROYD (_in a last frenzy_) I'll show thee--I'll-- [_He raises himself up, and is just picking his balance when Blackmore, with a sudden light kick, sends him sprawling again. He is seen on the edge of the light to collapse into stupor._ MRS. HOLROYD He'll kill you, he'll kill you! [_Blackmore laughs short._ MRS. HOLROYD Would you believe it! Oh, isn't it awful! (_She begins to weep in a little hysteria; Blackmore stands with his back leaning on the doorway, grinning in a strained fashion_) Is he hurt, do you think? BLACKMORE I don't know--I should think not. MRS. HOLROYD I wish he was dead; I do, with all my heart. BLACKMORE Do you? (_He looks at her quickly; she wavers and shrinks; he begins to smile strainedly as before_) You don't know _what_ you wish, or what you want. MRS. HOLROYD (_troubled_) Do you think I could get past him to come inside? BLACKMORE I should think so. [_Mrs. Holroyd, silent and troubled, manœuvres in the doorway, stepping over her husband's feet, which lie on the threshold._ BLACKMORE Why, you've got no shoes and stockings on! MRS. HOLROYD No. (_She enters the house and stands trembling before the fire_) BLACKMORE (_following her_) Are you cold? MRS. HOLROYD A little--with standing on the yard. BLACKMORE What a shame! [_She, uncertain of herself, sits down. He drops on one knee, awkwardly, and takes her feet in his hands._ MRS. HOLROYD Don't--no, don't! BLACKMORE They are frightfully cold. (_He remains, with head sunk, for some moments, then slowly rises_) Damn him!