HILDA.
I can"t listen to you if you talk like that.
BASIL.
D"you want me to go?
[_She does not answer for a moment, but walks up and down in agitation. At last she stops and faces him._
HILDA.
Did you hear me tell Mr. Brackley to come on Thursday?
BASIL.
Yes.
HILDA.
He"s asked me to be his wife. And on Thursday I shall give him an answer.
BASIL.
Hilda!
HILDA.
[_Earnestly._] It"s you who"ve driven me into it.
BASIL.
Hilda, what are you going to say to him?
HILDA.
I don"t know--perhaps, yes?
BASIL.
Oh, Hilda, Hilda, you don"t care for him?
HILDA.
[_Shrugging her shoulders._] He amuses me. I dare say we should get on very well together.
BASIL.
[_Pa.s.sionately._] Oh, you can"t. You don"t know what you"re doing. I thought--I thought you loved me.
HILDA.
It"s because I love you that I shall marry Mr. Brackley.
BASIL.
Oh, it"s absurd. I won"t let you. You"re making us both utterly wretched. I won"t let you sacrifice our happiness. Oh, Hilda, I love you. I can"t live without you. At first I tried to resist seeing you. I used to pa.s.s your door and look up at your windows; and the door seemed as if it were waiting for me. And at the end of the street I used to look back. Oh, how I used to want to come in and see you once more! I thought if I saw you just once, I should get over it. And at last I couldn"t help myself. I"m so weak. Do you despise me?
HILDA.
[_Almost in a whisper._] I don"t know.
BASIL.
And you were so kind I couldn"t help coming again. I thought I did no harm.
HILDA.
I saw you were unhappy.
BASIL.
I should think I was unhappy. For months I"ve dreaded going home. When I saw my house as I walked along I almost turned sick. You don"t know how fervently I"ve wished that I"d got killed in the war. I can"t go on.
HILDA.
But you must. It"s your duty.
BASIL.
Oh, I think I"ve had enough of duty and honour. I"ve used up all my principles in the last year.
HILDA.
Don"t say that, Basil.
BASIL.
After all, it"s my own fault. I brought it on myself, and I must take the consequences.... But I haven"t the strength, I don"t love her.
HILDA.
Then don"t let her ever find it out. Be kind to her, and gentle and forbearing.
BASIL.
I can"t be kind and gentle and forbearing day after day, for weeks, and months, and years.
HILDA.