Part 13 (2/2)

AMY. There's a danger of my having a child ... your child ... some time in April. That's all.

TREBELL. [_A sceptic who has seen a vision._] Oh ... it's impossible.

AMY. [_Flas.h.i.+ng at him, revengefully._] Why?

TREBELL. [_Brought to his mundane self_] Well ... are you sure?

AMY. [_In sudden agony._] D'you think I want it to be true? D'you think I--?

You don't know what it is to have a thing happening in spite of you.

TREBELL. [_His face set in thought._] Where have you been since we met?

AMY. Not to Ireland ... I haven't seen Justin for a year.

TREBELL. All the easier for you not to see him for another year.

AMY. That wasn't what you meant.

TREBELL. It wasn't ... but never mind.

_They are silent for a moment ... miles apart ... Then she speaks dully._

AMY. We do hate each other ... don't we!

TREBELL. Nonsense. Let's think of what matters.

AMY. [_Aimlessly._] I went to a man at Dover ... picked him out of the directory ... didn't give my own name ... pretended I was off abroad. He was a kind old thing ... said it was all most satisfactory. Oh, my G.o.d!

TREBELL. [_He goes to bend over her kindly._] Yes, you've had a torturing month or two. That's been wrong, I'm sorry.

AMY. Even now I have to keep telling myself that it's so ... otherwise I couldn't understand it. Any more than one really believes one will ever die ... one doesn't believe that, you know.

TREBELL. [_On the edge of a sensation that is new to him._] I am told that a man begins to feel unimportant from this moment forward. Perhaps it's true.

AMY. What has it to do with you anyhow? We don't belong to each other. How long were we together that night? Half an hour! You didn't seem to care a bit until after you'd kissed me and ... this is an absurd consequence.

TREBELL. Nature's a tyrant.

AMY. Oh, it's my punishment ... I see that well enough ... for thinking myself so clever ... forgetting my duty and religion ... not going to confession, I mean. [_Then hysterically._] G.o.d can make you believe in Him when he likes, can't he?

TREBELL. [_With comfortable strength._] My dear girl, this needs your pluck.

[_And he sits by her._] All we have to do is to prevent it being found out.

AMY. Yes ... the scandal would smash you, wouldn't it?

TREBELL. There isn't going to be any scandal.

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