SARAH. I will not come with you. CARNABY. [_Vexedly._] How absurd . . how ridiculous . . to persist in your silly sentiment. SARAH. [_Her voice rising._] I'm tired of that world . . which goes on and on, and there's no dying . . . one grows into a ghost . . visible . . then invisible. I'm glad paint has gone out of fashion. . . the painted ghosts were very ill to see. CARNABY. D'ye scoff at civilisation? SARAH. Look ahead for me. CARNABY. Banished to a hole in the damned provinces! But you're young yet, you're charming . . you're the wife . . and the honest wife of one of the country's best men. My head aches. D'ye despise good fortune's gifts? Keep as straight in your place in the world as you can. A monthly packet of books to Yorkshire . . no . . you never were fond of reading. Ye'd play patience . . cultivate chess problems . . kill yourself! SARAH. When one world fails take another. CARNABY. You have no more right to commit suicide than to desert the society you were born into. My head aches. SARAH. George is happy. CARNABY. D'ye dare to think so? SARAH. No. . it's a horrible marriage. CARNABY. He's losing refinement . . mark me . . he no longer polishes his nails. SARAH. But there are the children now. CARNABY. You never have wanted children. SARAH. I don't want a little child. CARNABY. She to be Lady Leete . . someday . . soon! What has he done for his family? SARAH. I'll come with you. You are clever, Papa. And I know just what to say to Charles. CARNABY. [_With a curious change of tone._] If you study anatomy you'll find that the brain, as it works, pressing forward the eyes . . thought is painful. Never be defeated. Chapter the latest . . the tickling of the Carp. And my throat is dry . . shall I drink that water? SARAH. No, I wouldn't. CARNABY. Not out of my hand? ANN. [_Speaking in a strange quiet voice, after her long silence._] I will not come to Brighton with you. CARNABY. Very dry! ANN. You must go back, Sally. CARNABY. [_As he looks at her, standing stiffly._] Now what is Ann's height . . five feet . . ? ANN. Sally must go back, for she belongs to it . . but I'll stay here where I belong. CARNABY. You've spoken three times and the words are jumbling in at my ears meaninglessly. I certainly took too much wine at dinner . . or else. . . Yes . . Sally goes back. . and you'll go forward. Who stays here? Don't burlesque your sister. What's in the air . . what disease is this? ANN. I mean to disobey you . . to stay here . . never to be unhappy. CARNABY. So pleased! ANN. I want to be an ordinary woman . . not clever . . not fortunate. CARNABY. I can't hear. ANN. Not clever. I don't believe in you, Papa. CARNABY. I exist . . I'm very sorry. ANN. I won't be married to any man. I refuse to be tempted . . I won't see him again. CARNABY. Yes. It's raining. SARAH. Raining! CARNABY. Don't you stop it raining.