TREBELL. Robert says ... that we've not been to see them for some time ... but that now I'm a greater man than ever I must be very busy. The vicarage has been painted and papered throughout and looks much fresher. Mary sends you her love and hopes you have no return of the rheumatism. And he would like to send me the proof sheets of his critical commentary on First Timothy ... for my alien eye might possibly detect some logical lapses. Need he repeat to me his thankfulness at my new attitude upon Disestablishment ... or assure me again that I have his prayers. Could we not go and stay there only for a few days? Possibly his opinion-- _She has borne this cruel kindness as long as she can and she breaks out...._ FRANCES. Oh ... don't ... don't! _He falls from his seeming callousness to the very blankness of despair._ TREBELL. No, we'll leave that ... and the rest ... and everything. _Her agony passes._ FRANCES. What do you mean to do? TREBELL. There's to be no public scandal. FRANCES. Why has Lord Horsham thrown you over then ... or hasn't that anything to do with it? TREBELL. It has to do with it. FRANCES. [_Lifting her voice; some tone returning to it._] Unconsciously ... I've known for years that this sort of thing might happen to you. TREBELL. Why? FRANCES. Power over men and women and contempt for them! Do you think they don't take their revenge sooner or later? TREBELL. Much good may it do them! FRANCES. Human nature turns against you ... by instinct ... in self-defence. TREBELL. And my own human-nature! FRANCES. [_Shocked into great pity, by his half articulate pain._] Yes ... you must have loved her, Henry ... in some odd way. I'm sorry for you both. TREBELL. I'm hating her now ... as a man can only hate his own silliest vices. FRANCES. [_Flashing into defence._] That's wrong of you. If you thought of her only as a pretty little fool.... Bearing your child ... all her womanly life belonged to you ... and for that time there was no other sort of life in her. So she became what you thought her. TREBELL. That's not true. FRANCES. It's true enough ... it's true of men towards women. You can't think of them through generations as one thing and then suddenly find them another. TREBELL. [_Hammering at his fixed idea._] She should have brought that child into the world. FRANCES. You didn't love her enough! TREBELL. I didn't love her at all. FRANCES. Then why should she value your gift? TREBELL. For its own sake. FRANCES. [_Turning away._] It's hopeless ... you don't understand. TREBELL. [_Helpless; almost like a deserted child._] I've been trying to ... all through the night. FRANCES. [_Turning back enlightened a little._] That's more the trouble then than the Cabinet question? _He shakes himself to his feet and begins to pace the room; his keenness coming back to him, his brow knitting again with the delight of thought._