ALICE. Don't be so proud of your misfortune. You looked quite like Booth
for the moment. [_this effectually removes the starch._] It will be very
stupid to send you to prison and you must do your best to keep out.
[_she goes on very practically._] We were discussing if anything could
be done for these one or two people who'll be beggared.
EDWARD. Yes, Alice. I'm sorry nothing can be done for them.
ALICE. It's a pity.
EDWARD. I suppose I was feeling heroic. I didn't mean to.
_He has become a little like a child with her._
ALICE. That's the worst of acting on principle . . one begins thinking
of one's attitude instead of the use of what one is doing.
EDWARD. I'm exposing this fraud on principle.
ALICE. Perhaps that's what's wrong.
EDWARD. Wrong!
ALICE. My dear Edward, if people are to be ruined . . !
EDWARD. What else is there to be done?
ALICE. Well . . have you thought?
EDWARD. There's nothing else to be done.
ALICE. On principle.
_He looks at her, she is smiling, it is true, but smiling quite
gravely._ EDWARD _is puzzled. Then the yeast of her suggestion begins to
work in his mind slowly, perversely at first._
EDWARD. It had occurred to Booth. . .
ALICE. Oh, anything may occur to Booth.
EDWARD. . . In his grave concern for the family honour that I might
quietly cheat the firm back into credit again.
ALICE. How stupid of Booth!
EDWARD. Well . . like my father . . Booth believes in himself.
ALICE. Yes, he's rather a credulous man.
EDWARD. [_ignoring her little joke._] He might have been lucky and have
done some good. I'm a weak sort of creature, just a collection of
principles as you say. Look, all I've been able to do in this business . .
at the cost of my whole life perhaps . . has been to sit senselessly
by my father's side and prevent things going from bad to worse.
ALICE. That was worth doing. The cost is your own affair.
_She is watching him, stilly and closely. Suddenly his face lights a
little and he turns to her._
EDWARD. Alice . . there's something else I could do.
ALICE. What?
EDWARD. It's illegal.
ALICE. So much the better perhaps. Oh, I'm lawless by birthright, being
a woman.
EDWARD. I could take the money that's in my father's name and use it
only to put right the smaller accounts. It'd take a few months to do it
well . . and cover the tracks. That'd be necessary.
ALICE. Then you'd give yourself up as you'd meant to do now?
EDWARD. Yes . . practically.
ALICE. It'd be worse for you then at the trial?
EDWARD. [_with a touch of another sort of pride._] You said that was my
affair.
ALICE. [_pain in her voice and eyes._] Oh, Edward!
EDWARD. Shall I do this?
ALICE. [_turning away._] Why must you ask me?
EDWARD. You mocked at my principles, didn't you? You've taken them from
me. The least you can do is to give me advice in exchange.
ALICE. [_after a moment._] No . . decide for yourself.
_He jumps up and begins to pace about, doubtful, distressed._
EDWARD. Good Lord . . it means lying and shuffling!
ALICE. [_a little trembling._] In a good cause.
EDWARD. Ah . . but lying and shuffling takes the fine edge off one's
soul.
ALICE. [_laughing at the quaintness of her own little epigram._] Edward,
are you one of God's dandies?
EDWARD. And . . Alice, it wouldn't be easy work. It wants qualities I
haven't got. I should fail.
ALICE. Would you?
_He catches a look from her._
EDWARD. Well, I might not.
ALICE. And you don't need success for a lure. That's like a common man.
EDWARD. You want me to try to do this?
_For answer, she dares only put out her hand, and he takes it._
ALICE. Oh, my dear . . cousin!
EDWARD. [_excitedly._] My people will have to hold their tongues. I
needn't have told them all this to-day.
ALICE. Don't tell them the rest . . they won't understand. I shall be
jealous if you tell them.
EDWARD. [_looking at her as she at him._] Well, you've the right to be.
This deed . . it's not done yet . . is your property.
ALICE. Thank you. I've always wanted to have something useful to my
credit . . and I'd almost given up hoping.
_Then suddenly his face changes, his voice changes and he grips the hand
he is holding so tightly as to hurt her._
EDWARD. Alice, if my father's story were true . . he must have begun
like this. Trying to do the right thing in the wrong way . . then doing
the wrong thing . . then bringing himself to what he was . . and so me
to this. [_he flings away from her._] No, Alice, I won't do it. I
daren't take that first step down. It's a worse risk than any failure.
Think . . I might succeed.
ALICE _stands very still, looking at him_.
ALICE. It's a big risk. Well . . I'll take it.
_He turns to her, in wonder._
EDWARD. You?
ALICE. I'll risk your becoming a bad man. That's a big risk for me.
_He understands, and is calmed and made happy._
EDWARD. Then there is no more to be said, is there?
ALICE. Not now. [_as she drops this gentle hint she hears something--the
hall door opening._] Here's Booth back again.
EDWARD. [_with a really mischievous grin._] He'll be so glad he's
convinced me.
ALICE. I must go back to Honor, poor girl. I wonder she has a tear left.
_She leaves him, briskly, brightly; leaves her cousin with his mouth set
and a light in his eyes._