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.’
He goes into the cupboard and returns with something in his hand, which he gives to 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.’
COLONEL. ‘Well, sir, still waiting for that interview with my wife before you can say anything?’
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.’