I would leave him, and not care _that_ about him any more. (_She snaps her fingers_) BLACKMORE Will you come with me? MRS. HOLROYD (_after a reluctant pause_) Where? BLACKMORE To Spain: I can any time have a job there, in a decent part. You could take the children. [_The figure of the sleeper stirs uneasily--they watch him._ BLACKMORE Will you? MRS. HOLROYD When would you go? BLACKMORE To-morrow, if you like. MRS. HOLROYD But why do you want to saddle yourself with me and the children? BLACKMORE Because I want to. MRS. HOLROYD But you don't love me? BLACKMORE Why don't I? MRS. HOLROYD You don't. BLACKMORE I don't know about that. I don't know anything about love. Only I've gone on for a year now, and it's got stronger and stronger-- MRS. HOLROYD What has? BLACKMORE This--this wanting you, to live with me. I took no notice of it for a long time. Now I can't get away from it, at no hour and nohow. (_He still avoids direct contact with her_) MRS. HOLROYD But you'd _like_ to get away from it. BLACKMORE I hate a mess of any sort. But if you'll come away with me--you and the children-- MRS. HOLROYD But I couldn't--you don't love me-- BLACKMORE I don't know what you mean by I don't love you. MRS. HOLROYD I can feel it. BLACKMORE And do you love _me_? (_A pause_) MRS. HOLROYD I don't know. Everything is so--so-- [_There is a long pause._ BLACKMORE How old are you? MRS. HOLROYD Thirty-two. BLACKMORE I'm twenty-seven. MRS. HOLROYD And have you never been in love? BLACKMORE I don't think so. I don't know. MRS. HOLROYD But you must know. I must go and shut that door that keeps clicking. [_She rises to go upstairs, making a clatter at the stair foot door. The noise rouses her husband. As she goes upstairs, he moves, makes coughing sounds, turns over, and then suddenly sits upright, gazing at Blackmore. The latter sits perfectly still on the sofa, his head dropped, hiding his face. His hands are clasped. They remain thus for a minute._ HOLROYD Hello! (_He stares fixedly_) Hello! (_His tone is undecided, as if he mistrusts himself_) What are--who are ter? (_Blackmore does not move; Holroyd stares blankly; he then turns and looks at the room_) Well, I dunna know. [_He staggers to his feet, clinging to the table, and goes groping to the stairs. They creak loudly under his weight. A doorlatch is heard to click. In a moment Mrs. Holroyd comes quickly downstairs._ BLACKMORE Has he gone to bed? MRS. HOLROYD (_nodding_) Lying on the bed. BLACKMORE Will he settle now? MRS. HOLROYD I don't know. He is like that sometimes. He will have delirium tremens if he goes on. BLACKMORE (_softly_) You can't stay with him, you know. MRS. HOLROYD And the children? BLACKMORE We'll take them. MRS. HOLROYD Oh! [_Her face puckers to cry. Suddenly he starts up and puts his arms round her, holding her protectively and gently, very caressingly. She clings to him. They are silent for some moments._