JOHN. I tried to be done with it for your sake. I’ve often had a sore heart for you, Maggie. JAMES. You’re proving it! MAGGIE. Yes, James, he had. I’ve often seen him looking at me very sorrowfully of late because of what was in his mind; and many a kindly little thing he has done for me that he didn’t use to do. JOHN. You noticed that too! MAGGIE. Yes. DAVID [controlling himself]. Well, we won’t go into that; the thing to be thankful for is that it’s ended. ALICK [who is looking very old]. Yes, yes, that’s the great thing. JOHN. All useless, sir, it’s not ended; it’s to go on. DAVID. There’s a devil in you, John Shand. JOHN [who is an unhappy man just now]. I dare say there is. But do you think he had a walk over, Mr. David? JAMES. Man, I could knock you down! MAGGIE. There’s not one of you could knock John down. DAVID [exasperated]. Quiet, Maggie. One would think you were taking his part. MAGGIE. Do you expect me to desert him at the very moment that he needs me most? DAVID. It’s him that’s deserting you. JOHN. Yes, Maggie, that’s what it is. ALICK. Where’s your marriage vow? And your church attendances? JAMES [with terrible irony]. And your prize for moral philosophy? JOHN [recklessly]. All gone whistling down the wind. DAVID. I suppose you understand that you’ll have to resign your seat. JOHN [his underlip much in evidence]. There are hundreds of seats, but there’s only one John Shand. MAGGIE [but we don’t hear her]. That’s how I like to hear him speak. DAVID [the ablest person in the room]. Think, man, I’m old by you, and for long I’ve had a pride in you. It will be beginning the world again with more against you than there was eight years ago. JOHN. I have a better head to begin it with than I had eight years ago. ALICK [hoping this will bite]. She’ll have her own money, David! JOHN. She’s as poor as a mouse. JAMES [thinking possibly of his Elizabeth’s mother]. We’ll go to her friends, and tell them all. They’ll stop it. JOHN. She’s of age. JAMES. They’ll take her far away. JOHN. I’ll follow, and tear her from them. ALICK. Your career--- JOHN [to his credit]. To hell with my career. Do you think I don’t know I’m on the rocks? What can you, or you, or you, understand of the passions of a man! I’ve fought, and I’ve given in. When a ship founders, as I suppose I’m foundering, it’s not a thing to yelp at. Peace, all of you. [He strides into the dining-room, where we see him at times pacing the floor.] DAVID [to JAMES, who gives signs of a desire to take off his coat]. Let him be. We can’t budge him. [With bitter wisdom] It’s true what he says, true at any rate about me. What do I know of the passions of a man! I’m up against something I don’t understand. ALICK. It’s something wicked. DAVID. I dare say it is, but it’s something big. JAMES. It’s that damned charm. MAGGIE [still by the fire]. That’s it. What was it that made you fancy Elizabeth, James? JAMES [sheepishly]. I can scarcely say.