Guy. Those who are not hanged will be starving for their sins. I've told you to keep quiet, Ruth. Ruth. I have kept quiet, Guy, kept quiet while you made me love you like your dog because you warmed my body well and fed me till my eyes were closed with fat and all my will was lulled to sleep. I asked you questions of the factory, and when you gave me poetry books to read, I read them and forgot. You told me not to meddle and I have obeyed. I gave up asking questions till in all the valley there was none more ignorant than me. Than me, who---- Guy (_rising_). Than you who made a bargain with me here. Is this your way of keeping it? Ruth. Guy, let me ask you things. If it is the last time, for just this once, be kind and tell me what you mean to do. Guy. If it is the last time? Ruth, I keep my bargains. There is your father's life at stake. Ruth. Still, I must know. For the sake of our future, Guy, I must know what you mean to do. I have been quiet, Guy. I will again. I might have spoken now while Captain Lascelles spoke with you. I kept my silence then, But tell me, Guy. It's you who are the master now? You, not your father? Guy. It is I. Ruth. Lord of the Valley. Master of their lives. Guy, Guy, what will you do with them? Guy. Break them. Ruth. Your father would be merciful. Guy. Old men grow soft with age. Ruth. Have you not broken them enough? Have they not starved for you till desperation made them turn and do the deed they did to-night? Guy. They did the deed. They turned. Therefore they are not broken, Ruth. But, by the Lord, they're going to be. I'll have them meek. I'll crush their spirits till their children's children rue the day their fathers tried to thwart Guy Barlow. Ruth. Yes. You can do it. You've the strength. Guy. And the power. The dogs don't know their master yet. Ruth. You can do it, Guy. But will you? Guy. Will I? Ruth. Hear me. A woman can't do much. A woman's handicapped. But what she can do, Guy, all that I'll do---- Guy. Where is your bargain now? Ruth. Yes. I made a bargain, didn't I? I bargained for my father's life. My life for his. Guy. Your--life? Ruth. I said I'd be your slave. I said that I would give you sons. I said I would not ask you questions. Guy. And you have asked. You have asked and had your answers, For the last time, Ruth. Ruth. Yes. I shall ask no more. I shall----Guy. What? (_Enter soldier with Matthew and Martin, whose wrists are bound behind their backs._) Soldier. Captain Lascelles' orders, sir. Guy. Thank you. You may go. (_Soldier salutes and goes. Ruth snatches knife from table and cuts Matthew's bonds._) Ruth. Father, you shall not be bound. Guy (_watching cynically and firmly taking knife from her._) No. Our father must not be in bonds, must he? But we will stop there, Ruth. It is not Kelsall's turn just yet. Matthew. I am not wishful to be treated differently from the rest.