I was left an orphan when I was six. My Uncle John brought me up, in the Coach and Horses at Rainsworth. He'd got no children. He was good to me, but he drank. I went to Mansfield Grammar School. Then he fell out with me because I wouldn't wait in the bar, and I went as nursery governess to Berryman's. And I felt I'd nowhere to go, I belonged to nowhere, and nobody cared about me, and men came after me, and I hated it. So to get out of it, I married the first man that turned up. BLACKMORE And you never cared about him? MRS. HOLROYD Yes, I did. I did care about him. I wanted to be a wife to him. But there's nothing at the bottom of him, if you know what I mean. You can't _get_ anywhere with him. There's just his body and nothing else. Nothing that keeps him, no anchor, no roots, nothing satisfying. It's a horrible feeling there is about him, that nothing is safe or permanent--nothing is anything-- BLACKMORE And do you think you can trust _me_? MRS. HOLROYD I think you're different from him. BLACKMORE Perhaps I'm not. MRS. HOLROYD (_warmly_) You are. BLACKMORE At any rate, we'll see. You'll come on Saturday to London? MRS. HOLROYD Well, you see, there's my money. I haven't got it yet. My uncle has left me about a hundred and twenty pounds. BLACKMORE Well, see the lawyer about it as soon as you can. I can let you have some money if you want any. But don't let us wait after Saturday. MRS. HOLROYD But isn't it wrong? BLACKMORE Why, if you don't care for him, and the children are miserable between the two of you--which they are-- MRS. HOLROYD Yes. BLACKMORE Well, then I see no wrong. As for him--he would go one way, and only one way, whatever you do. Damn him, he doesn't matter. MRS. HOLROYD No. BLACKMORE Well, then--have done with it. Can't you cut clean of him? Can't you now? MRS. HOLROYD And then--the children-- BLACKMORE They'll be all right with me and you--won't they? MRS. HOLROYD Yes-- BLACKMORE Well, then. Now, come and have done with it. We can't keep on being ripped in two like this. We need never hear of him any more. MRS. HOLROYD Yes--I love you. I do love you-- BLACKMORE Oh, my God! (_He speaks with difficulty--embracing her_) MRS. HOLROYD When I look at him, and then at you--ha--(_she gives a short laugh_) BLACKMORE He's had all the chance--it's only fair--Lizzie-- MRS. HOLROYD My love. [_There is silence. He keeps his arm round her. After hesitating, he picks up his cap._ BLACKMORE I'll go then--at any rate. Shall you come with me? [_She follows him to the door._ MRS. HOLROYD I'll come on Saturday. BLACKMORE Not now? CURTAIN THE THIRD ACT