_In the darkness the sound of the unlocking of a door and of_ ABUD _entering is heard. He walks to the table, strikes a light upon a tinder-box and lights a candle which he finds there._ ANN _is standing in the doorway_. ABUD _is in stocking feet_. ABUD. Don't come further. Here are your slippers. _He places one of the Windsor chairs for her on which she sits while he takes off her wet shoes and puts on her slippers which he found on the table. Then he takes her wet shoes to the fireplace. She sits still. Then he goes to the door and brings in his own boots from the little porch and puts them in the fireplace too. Then he locks the door and hangs up the key beside it. Then he stands looking at her; but she does not speak, so he takes the candle, lifts it above his head and walks to the dresser._ ABUD. [_Encouragingly._] Our dresser . . Thomas Jupp made that. Plates and dishes. Here's Uncle Prestige's clock. ANN. Past seven. ABUD. That's upstairs. Table and bench, deal. Oak settle . . solid. ANN. Charming. ABUD. Windsor chairs . . Mother's sampler. ANN. Home. ABUD. Is it as you wish? I have been glad at your not seeing it until to-night. ANN. I'm sinking into the strangeness of the place. ABUD. Very weary? It's been a long nine miles. _She does not answer. He goes and considers the flower-pots in the window._ ANN. I still have on my cloak. ABUD. Hang it behind the door there . . no matter if the wet drips. ANN. . . I can wipe up the puddle. _She hangs up her cloak. He selects a flower-pot and brings it to her._ ABUD. Hyacinth bulbs for the spring. ANN. [_After a glance._] I don't want to hold them. _He puts back the pot, a little disappointed._ ABUD. Out there's the scullery. ANN. It's very cold. ABUD. If we light the fire now that means more trouble in the morning. _She sits on the settle._ ANN. Yes, I am very weary. ABUD. Go to bed. ANN. Not yet. [_After a moment._] How much light one candle gives! Sit where I may see you. _He sits on the bench. She studies him curiously._ ANN. Well . . this is an experiment. ABUD. [_With reverence._] God help us both. ANN. Amen. Some people are so careful of their lives. If we fail miserably we'll hold our tongues . . won't we? ABUD. I don't know . . I can't speak of this. ANN. These impossible things which are done mustn't be talked of . . that spoils them. We don't want to boast of this, do we? ABUD. I fancy nobody quite believes that we are married. ANN. Here's my ring . . real gold. ABUD. [_With a sudden fierce throw up of his head._] Never you remind me of the difference between us. ANN. Don't speak to me so. ABUD. Now I'm your better. ANN. My master . . The door's locked. ABUD. [_Nodding._] I know that I must be . . or be a fool. ANN. [_After a moment._] Be kind to me. ABUD. [_With remorse._] Always I will. ANN. You are master here. ABUD. And I've angered you?