AMOS. [To AGNES.] I'm sorry to learn from Dr. Kirke that you've been
ill. I hope you're better.
AGNES. [Turning away, GERTRUDE watching her.] Thank you, I am quite
well.
AMOS. [Gruffly.] Are you ready, Gertrude?
GERTRUDE. No, dear, not yet. I want you to help me.
AMOS. In what way?
GERTRUDE. I want you to join me in persuading Mrs. Ebbsmith--my
friend, Mrs. Ebbsmith--to come to Ketherick with me.
AMOS. My dear sister--!
GERTRUDE. [Firmly.] Please, Amos!
AGNES. Stop a moment! Mr. Winterfield, your sister doesn't in the least
understand how matters are with me. I am returning to England, but with
Mr. Cleeve. [Recklessly.] Oh, you'd hear of it eventually! He is
reconciled to his wife.
GERTRUDE. Oh--! Then, surely, you--!
AGNES. No. The reconciliation goes no further than mere outward
appearances. He relies upon me as much as ever. [Beating her hands
together passionately.] He can't spare me--can't spare me!
AMOS. [In a low voice to GERTRUDE.] Are you satisfied?
GERTRUDE. I suspected something of the kind. [Going to AGNES, gripping
her wrist tightly.] Pull yourself out of the mud! Get up out of the
mud!
AGNES. I have no will to--no desire to!
GERTRUDE. You mad thing!
AGNES. [Releasing herself, facing GERTRUDE and AMOS.] You're only
breaking in upon my hour.
GERTRUDE. Your hour--?
AGNES. [Waving them away.] I ask you to go--to go! [GERTRUDE returns
to AMOS.]
AMOS. My dear Gertrude, you see what our position is here. If Mrs.
Ebbsmith asks for our help it is our duty to give it.
GERTRUDE. It is especially my duty, Amos.
AMOS. And I should have thought it especially mine. However, Mrs.
Ebbsmith appears to firmly decline our help. And at this point, I
confess, I would rather you left it--you, at least.
GERTRUDE. You would rather I left it--I, the virtuous, unsoiled woman!
Yes, I am a virtuous woman, Amos; and it strikes you as odd, I suppose,
my insisting upon friendship with her. But look here, both of you. I'll
tell you a secret. You never knew it, Amos my dear. I never allowed
anybody to suspect it--
AMOS. Never knew what?
GERTRUDE. The sort of married life mine was. It didn't last long, but
it was dreadful, almost intolerable.
AMOS. Gertrude!
GERTRUDE. After the first few weeks--weeks, not months!--after the
first few weeks of it, my husband treated me as cruelly--[turning to
AGNES]--just as cruelly, I do believe, as your husband treated you.
[AMOS makes a movement, showing astonishment.] Wait! Now then! There
was another man--one I loved--one I couldn't help loving! I could
have found release with him, perhaps happiness of a kind. I resisted,
came through it. They're dead--the two are dead! And here I am, a
virtuous, reputable woman; saved by the blessed mercy of Heaven! There,
you are not surprised any longer, Amos! [Pointing to AGNES.] "My
friend, Mrs Ebbsmith!" [Bursting into tears.] Oh! Oh, if my little boy
had been spared to me, he should have grown up tender to women--tender
to women! He should, he should--! [She sits upon the settee,
weeping . . . There is a short silence.]
AMOS. Mrs. Ebbsmith, when I came here tonight I was angry with Gertrude
--not altogether, I hope, for being in your company. But I was
certainly angry with her for visiting you without my knowledge. I think
I sometimes forget that she is eight-and-twenty, not eighteen. Well,
now I offer to delay our journey home for a few days, if you hold out
the faintest hope that her companionship is likely to aid you in any
way.
[AGNES, standing motionless, makes no response. AMOS crosses to her,
and as he passes GERTRUDE, he lets his hand drop over her shoulder; she
clasps it, then rises and moves to a chair, where she sits, crying
silently.]
AMOS. [By AGNES' side--in a low voice.] You heard what she said. Saved
by the mercy of Heaven.
AGNES. Yes, but she can feel that.
AMOS. You felt so once.
AGNES. Once--?
AMOS. You have, in years gone by, asked for help on your knees.
AGNES. It never came.
AMOS. Repeat your cry!
AGNES. There would be no answer.
AMOS. Repeat it!
AGNES. [Turning upon him.] If miracles could happen! If "help", as you
term it, did come! Do you know what "help" would mean to me?
AMOS. What--?
AGNES. It would take the last crumb from me!
AMOS. This man's--protection?