AMY. [_Unresponsive to him now._] I was Justin's wife, and I went away from
him sooner than bear him children. Had I the right to choose or had I not?
TREBELL. [_Taking another path._] Shall I tell you something I believe? If
we were left to choose, we should stand for ever deciding whether to start
with the right foot or the left. We blunder into the best things in life.
Then comes the test ... have we faith enough to go on ... to go through with
the unknown thing?
AMY. [_So bored by these metaphysics._] Faith in what?
TREBELL. Our vitality. I don't give a fig for beauty, happiness, or brains.
All I ask of myself is ... can I pay Fate on demand?
AMY. Yes ... in imagination. But I've got physical facts to face.
_But he has her attention now and pursues the advantage._
TREBELL. Very well then ... let the meaning of them go. Look forward simply
to a troublesome illness. In a little while you can go abroad quietly and
wait patiently. We're not fools and we needn't find fools to trust in. Then
come back to England....
AMY. And forget. That seems simple enough, doesn't it?
TREBELL. If you don't want the child let it be mine ... not yours.
AMY. [_Wondering suddenly at this bond between them._] Yours! What would you
do with it?
TREBELL. [_Matter-of-fact._] Provide for it, of course.
AMY. Never see it, perhaps.
TREBELL. Perhaps not. If there were anything to be gained ... for the child.
I'll see that he has his chance as a human being.
AMY. How hopeful! [_Now her voice drops. She is looking back, perhaps at a
past self._] If you loved me ... perhaps I might learn to love the thought
of your child.
TREBELL. [_As if half his life depended on her answer._] Is that true?
AMY. [_Irritably._] Why are you picking me to pieces? I think that is true.
If you had been loving me for a long, long time--[_The agony rushes back on
her._] But now I'm only afraid. You might have some pity for me ... I'm so
afraid.
TREBELL. [_Touched._] Indeed ... indeed, I'll take what share of this I can.
_She shrinks from him unforgivingly._
AMY. No, let me alone. I'm nothing to you. I'm a sick beast in danger of my
life, that's all ... cancerous!
_He is roused for the first time, roused to horror and protest._
TREBELL. Oh, you unhappy woman! ... if life is like death to you....
AMY. [_Turning on him._] Don't lecture me! If you're so clever put a stop
to this horror. Or you might at least say you're sorry.
TREBELL. Sorry! [_The bell on the table rings jarringly._] Cantelupe!
_He goes to the telephone. She gets up cold and collected, steadied
merely by the unexpected sound._
AMY. I mustn't keep you from governing the country. I'm sure you'll do it
very well.
TREBELL. [_At the telephone._] Yes, bring him up, of course ... isn't Mr.
Kent there? [_then to her._] I may be ten minutes with him or half an hour.
Wait and we'll come to a conclusion.