FRANCES. Yes . . lonelier than you can ever be. You have children. I'm just beginning to realise. . . MRS. FARRANT. [_Leading her from the mere selfishness of sorrow._] There's loneliness of the spirit, too. FRANCES. Ah, but once you've tasted the common joys of life . . once you've proved all your rights as a man or woman . . . MRS. FARRANT. Then there are subtler things to miss. As well be alone like you, or dead like him, without them . . I sometimes think. FRANCES. [_Responsive, lifted from egoism, reading her friend's mind._] You demand much. MRS. FARRANT. I wish that he had demanded much of any woman. FRANCES. You know how this misery began? That poor little wretch . . she's lying dead too. They're both dead together now. Do you think they've met . . ? JULIA _grips both her hands and speaks very steadily to help her friend back to self control_. MRS. FARRANT. George told me as soon as he was told. I tried to make him understand my opinion, but he thought I was only shocked. FRANCES. I was sorry for her. Now I can't forgive her either. MRS. FARRANT. [_Angry, remorseful, rebellious._] When will men learn to know one woman from another? FRANCES. [_With answering bitterness._] When will all women care to be one thing rather than the other? _They are stopped by the sound of the opening of_ KENT'S _door_. WALTER _comes from his room, some papers from his table held listlessly in one hand. He is crying, undisguisedly, with a child's grief._ KENT. Oh . . am I in your way . . ? FRANCES. I didn't know you were still here, Walter. KENT. I've been going through the letters as usual. I don't know why, I'm sure. They won't have to be answered now . . will they? WEDGECROFT _comes back, grave and tense_. WEDGECROFT. Horsham has gone. He thought perhaps you'd be staying with Miss Trebell for a bit. MRS. FARRANT. Yes, I shall be. WEDGECROFT. I must go too . . it's nearly eleven. FRANCES. To the =other= inquest? _This stirs her two listeners to something of a shudder._ WEDGECROFT. Yes. MRS. FARRANT. [_In a low voice._] It will make no difference now . . I mean . . still nothing need come out? We needn't know why he . . why he did it. WEDGECROFT. When he talked to me last night, and I didn't know what he was talking of. . . FRANCES. He was waiting this morning for Lord Horsham's note. . . MRS. FARRANT. [_In real alarm._] Oh, it wasn't because of the Cabinet trouble . . you must persuade Cyril Horsham of that. You haven't told him . . he's so dreadfully upset as it is. I've been swearing it had nothing to do with that. WEDGECROFT. [_Cutting her short, bitingly._] Has a time ever come to you when it was easier to die than to go on living? Oh . . I told Lord Horsham just what I thought. _He leaves them, his own grief unexpressed._ FRANCES. [_Listlessly._] Does it matter why?