Page:Fashions for Men And The Swan Two Plays (NY 1922).pdf/210

 —Well, he disposed of the rose-garden very neatly.

—[Rises.] What did I tell you? Could anything have been more pointed? You heard that Colonel. I scarcely got the rose-garden out of my mouth when he came forward with the cows.

—A coincidence.

—[Heatedly.] Was it? Well, I shan't be beaten by such a coincidence.

—I observed that your first attempts in that direction were without conspicuous success.

—I shan't give up as long as there is a ray of hope, an hour of time left.

—What are you going to do now?

—There is only one way left.

—What way?

—Only one. A terrible way.

—You alarm me, Beatrice.

—Yes, you may well be alarmed. For what I propose to do is so reprehensible that, if anyone else did it, I'd despise her all my life.

—What in Heaven's name are you thinking of?

—God will forgive a mother anything she does for her child. And a widow what she does for the welfare of her family. [She faces with tears in her eyes.] You will forgive me.