Don't you see how splendid it is; our old friend Steve.'
COLONEL, glaring at him, 'Our old friend, Steve.'
As for Amy, that pale-faced lily, for the moment she stands disregarded. Never mind; Ginevra will yet do her justice.
ALICE. 'Oh, happy day!' Brazenly she takes Steve's two hands, 'Robert, he is to be our son.'
COLONEL. 'You are very clever, Alice, but do you really think I believe that this is no shock to you? Oh, woman, why has this deception not struck you to the ground?'
ALICE. 'Deception? Amy, Steve, I do believe he thinks that this is as much a surprise to me 'as it is to him! Why, Robert, I have known about it ever since I saw Amy alone this afternoon. She told me at once. Then in came Steve, and he--'
COLONEL. 'Is it as bad as that!'
ALICE. 'As what, dear?'
COLONEL. 'That my wife must lie to me.'
ALICE. 'Oh, Robert.'
COLONEL. 'I am groping only, but I can see now that you felt there was something wrong from the first. How did you find out?'
ALICE, imploringly, 'Robert, they are engaged to be married; it was foolish of them not to tell you; but, oh, my dear, leave it at that.'
COLONEL. 'Why did you ask Amy to follow us here?'
ALICE. 'So that we could all be together when we broke it to you, dear.'
COLONEL. 'Another lie! My shoulders are broad; why shouldn't I have it to bear as well as you?'
ALICE. 'There is nothing to bear but just a little folly.'
COLONEL. 'Folly! And neither of them able to say a word?'
Indeed they are very cold lovers; Amy's lip is curled at Steve. To make matters worse, the cupboard door, which has so far had the decency to remain quiet, now presumes to have its say. It opens of itself a few inches, creaking guiltily. Three people are so startled that a new suspicion is roused in the fourth.
ALICE, who can read his face so well, 'She wasn't there, Robert, she wasn't.'
COLONEL. 'My God! I understand now; she didn't follow us; she hid there when I came.'
ALICE. 'No, Robert, no.'
He goes into the cupboard and returns with something in his hand, which he gives to Amy.
COLONEL. 'Your other glove, Amy.'
ALICE. 'I can't keep it from you any longer, Robert; I have done my best.' She goes to Amy to protect her. 'But Amy is still my child.'
'What a deceiver' Amy is thinking.
COLONEL. 'Well, sir, still waiting for that interview with my wife before you can say anything?'
STEVE, a desperate fellow, 'Yes.'
ALICE. 'You will have every opportunity of explaining, Steve, many opportunities; but in the meantime--just now, please go, leave us alone.' Stamping her foot: 'Go, please.'
Steve has had such an evening of it that he clings dizzily to the one amazing explanation, that Alice loves him not wisely but too well. Never will he betray her, never.
STEVE, with a meaning that is lost on her but is very evident to the other lady present,
'Anything you ask me to do, Alice, anything. I shall go upstairs only, so that if you want me--'
ALICE. 'Oh, go.' He goes, wondering whether he is a villain or a hero, which is perhaps a pleasurable state of mind.
COLONEL. 'You are wondrous lenient to him; I shall have more to say. As for this girl--look at her standing there, she seems rather proud of herself.'
ALICE. 'It isn't really hardness, Robert. It is because she thinks that you are hard. Robert, dear, I want you to go away too, and leave Amy to me. Go home, Robert; we shall follow soon.'
COLONEL, after a long pause, 'If you wish it.'
ALICE. 'Leave her to her mother.'
When he has gone Amy leans across the top of a chair, sobbing her little heart away. Alice tries to take her--the whole of her--in her arms, but is rebuffed with a shudder.
AMY. 'I wonder you can touch me.'
ALICE. 'The more you ask of your mother the more she has to give. It is my love you need, Amy; and you can draw upon it, and draw upon it.'
AMY. 'Pray excuse me.'
ALICE. 'How can you be so hard! My child, I am not saying one harsh word to you. I am asking you only to hide your head upon your mother's breast.'
AMY.