Alice--I tell you again, Harvey's
right; the girl must not be--summarily dismissed: it would be an act of
cruel injustice. Good-bye. [_He offers to kiss her--she turns away._] As
you like. Good-bye, Harvey, old man.

HARVEY. Good-bye, Tom. [_They shake hands._] And thank you.

MRS. BANKET. [_Kissing_ MRS. WESTERN.] My poor, dear Alice!

MRS. WESTERN. Good-bye, Fanny. I'm sorry that our party to-night--

MRS. BANKET. Oh, that doesn't matter! Poor thing! I promise you that Tom
shall have a good talking to!

[_She is too angry with_ HARVEY _to say good-bye to him: she and
the_ JUDGE _go. The moment the door closes,_ HARVEY _begins,
feverishly and passionately._

HARVEY. Now just listen. I'm going to speak to you--I'm going to say
things--things that have been in my heart, in my life, for years. I'm not
going to spare you, I'm going to tell you the truth, and the truth, and
the truth!

MRS. WESTERN. [_Calmly, looking ironically at him._] If it's the same kind
of truth you've been giving us to-night--

HARVEY. We've been married ten years. Oh, I know, we were neither of us
very young. But anyhow the last five have been nothing but misery for me.
Misery--do you hear that? You sitting there, calm and collected--not
caring one damn for me--

MRS. WESTERN. [_Quietly._] That's not true.

HARVEY. It is, and you know it. The mother of my children! Satisfied with
that. Never a word of kindness, or sympathy. And as for--affection!

MRS. WESTERN. We're not sweethearts--we're middle-aged people.

HARVEY. Well, I need something more. And, look here, I'll tell you. This
girl has made life worth living. That's all. I'd come home at night
dog-tired, all day in the City--sick of it, Stock Exchange, office, and
the mud and the grime and the worry--there were you, with a nod, ah,
Harvey, good evening--and you'd scarcely look up from your Committee
Report or your Blue-book, or damned pamphlet or other--

MRS. WESTERN. [_Contemptuously._] You are one of the men who want their
wife to be a mere sort of doll.

HARVEY. [_More and more vehemently._] I want my wife to care for me! I
want her to smile when I come in, and be glad--I want her to love me! You
don't! By the Lord, I've sneaked upstairs, gone in and had a peep at the
children--well, they'd be asleep. I tell you I've been hungry, hungry, for
a word, for a look! And there, in the schoolroom, was this girl. I've
played it low down, I know--she's fond of me. But