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HILLCRIST。 It's the utmost I'll consent to； Amy； and don't let's
have any humbug about its being； morally necessary。 We do it to
save our skins。
MRS。 H。 I don't know what you mean by humbug？
JILL。 He means humbug； mother。
HILLCRIST。 It must stop at old Hornblower。 Do you quite
understand？
MRS。 H。 Quite。
JILL。 Will it stop？
MRS。 H。 Jill； if you can't keep your impertinence to yourself
HILLCRIST。 Jill； come with me。
＇He turns towards door； Back。＇
JILL。 I'm sorry； mother。 Only it is a skin game； isn't it？
MRS。 H。 You pride yourself on plain speech； Jill。 I pride myself
on plain thought。 You will thank me afterwards that I can see
realities。 I know we are better people than these Hornblowers。
Here we are going to stay； and theyare not。
JILL。 ＇Looking at her with a sort of unwilling admiration＇ Mother；
you're wonderful！
HILLCRIST。 Jill！
JILL。 Coming； Dodo。
＇She turns and runs to the door。 They go out。＇
＇MRS。 HILLCRIST； with a long sigh； draws herself up； fine and
proud。＇
MRS。 H。 Dawker！ ＇He comes to her。＇
＇I shall send him a note to…night； and word it so that
he will be bound to come and see us to…marrow morning。 Will
you be in the study just before eleven o'clock； with this
gentleman？＇
DAWKER。 ＇Nodding＇ We're going to wire for his partner。 I'll bring
him too。 Can't make too sure。
＇She goes firmly up the steps and out。＇
DAWKER。 ＇To the STRANGER； with a wink＇ The Squire's squeamishtoo
much of a gentleman。 But he don't count。 The grey mare's all
right。 You wire to Henry。 I'm off to our solicitors。 We'll make
that old rhinoceros sell us back the Centry at a decent price。
These Hornblowers＇Laying his finger on his nose＇ We've got 'em
CURTAIN
SCENE II
CHLOE's boudoir at half…past seven the same evening。 A pretty
room。 No pictures on the walls； but two mirrors。 A screen and
a luxurious couch an the fireplace side； stage Left。 A door
rather Right of Centre Back； opening inwards。 A French window；
Right forward： A writing table； Right Back。 Electric light
burning。
CHLOE； in a tea…gown； is standing by the forward end of the
sofa； very still； and very pale。 Her lips are parted； and her
large eyes stare straight before them as if seeing ghosts： The
door is opened noiselessly and a WOMAN'S face is seen。 It
peers at CHLOE； vanishes； and the door is closed。 CHLOE raises
her hands； covers her eyes with them； drops them with a quick
gesture； and looks round her。 A knock。 With a swift movement
she slides on to the sofa； and lies prostrate； with eyes
closed。
CHLOE。 ＇Feebly＇ Come in！
＇Her Maid enters； a trim； contained figure of uncertain years；
in a black dress； with the face which was peering in。＇
Yes； Anna？
ANNA。 Aren't you going in to dinner； ma'am？
CHLOE。 ＇With closed eyes＇ No。
ANNA。 Will you take anything here； ma'am？
CHLOE。 I'd like a biscuit and a glass of champagne。
＇The MAID； who is standing between sofa and door； smiles。
CHLOE； with a swift look； catches the smile。＇
Why do you smile？
ANNA。 Was I； ma'am？
CHLOE。 You know you were。 ＇Fiercely＇ Are you paid to smile at me？
ANNA。 ＇Immovable＇ No； ma'am； Would you like some eau de Cologne on
your forehead？
CHLOE。 Yes。No。What's the good？ ＇Clasping her forehead＇ My
headache won't go。
ANNA。 To keep lying down's the best thing for it。
CHLOE。 I have beenhours。
ANNA。 ＇With the smile＇ Yes； ma'am。
CHLOE。 ＇Gathering herself up on the sofa＇ Anna！ Why do you do it？
ANNA。 Do what； ma'am？
CHLOE。 Spy on me。
ANNA。 Inever！ I！
CHLOE。 To spy！ You're a fool； too。 What is there to spy on？
ANNA。 Nothing； ma'am。 Of course； if you're not satisfied with me；
I must give notice。 Onlyif I were spying； I should expect to have
notice given me。 I've been accustomed to ladies who wouldn't stand
such a thing for a minute。
CHLOE： ＇Intently＇ Well； you'll take a month's wages and go
tomorrow。 And that's all； now。
＇ANNA inclines her head and goes out。＇
＇CHLOE； with a sort of moan； turns over and buries her face in
the cushion。＇
CHLOE。 ＇Sitting up＇ If I could see that manif onlyor Dawker…
＇She springs up and goes to the door； but hesitates； and comes
back to the head of the sofa； as ROLF comes in。 During this
scene the door is again opened stealthily； an inch or too。＇
ROLF。 How's the head？
CHLOE。 Beastly； thanks。 I'm not going into dinner。
ROLF。 Is there anything I can do for you？
CHLOE。 No； dear boy。 ＇Suddenly looking at him＇ You don't want
this quarrel with the Hillcrists to go on； do you； Rolf？
ROLF。 No； I hate it。
CHLOE。 Well； I think I might be able to stop it。 Will you slip
round to Dawker'sit's not five minutesand ask him to come and
see me。
ROLF。 Father and Charlie wouldn't
CHLOE。 I know。 But if he comes to the window here while you're at
dinner； I'll let him in； and out； and nobody'd know。
ROLF。 ＇Astonished＇ Yes； but what I mean how
CHLOE。 Don't ask me。 It's worth the shot that's all。 ＇Looking at
her wrist…watch＇ To this window at eight o'clock exactly。 First
long window on the terrace； tell him。
ROLF。 It's nothing Charlie would mind？
CHLOE。 No； only I can't tell himhe and father are so mad about it
all。
ROLF。 If there's a real chance
CHLOE。 ＇Going to the window and opening it＇ This way； Rolf。 If
you don't come back I shall know he's coming。 Put your watch by
mine。 ＇Looking at his watch＇ It's a minute fast； see！
ROLF。 Look here； Chloe
CHLOE。 Don't wait； go on。
＇She almost pushes him out through the window； closes it after
him； draws the curtains again； stands a minute； thinking hard；
goes to the bell and rings it； then； crossing to the writing
table； Right Back； she takes out a chemist's prescription。＇
＇ANNA comes in。＇
CHLOE。 I don't want that champagne。 Take this to the chemist and
get him to make up some of these cachets quick； and bring them back
yourself。
ANNA。 Yes； ma'am； but you have some。
CHLOE。 They're too old； I've taken twothe strength's out of them。
Quick； please； I can't stand this head。
ANNA。 ＇Taking the prescriptionwith her smile＇ Yes； ma'am。 It'll
take some timeyou don't want me？
CHLOE。 No； I want the cachets。
＇ANNA goes out。＇
＇CHLOE looks at her wrist…watch； goes to the writing…table；
which is old…fashioned； with a secret drawer； looks round her；
dives at the secret drawer； takes out a roll of notes and a
tissue paper parcel。 She counts the notes： 〃Three hundred。〃
Slips them into her breast and unwraps the little parcel。 It
contains pears。 She slips them； too； into her dress； looks
round startled； replaces the drawer； and regains her place on
the sofa； lying prostrate as the door opens； and HORNBLOWER
comes in。 She does not open her ages； and he stands looking at
her a moment before speaking。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Almost s