ant to, Margaret, but that's what life itself says. We can't get
behind life. We can't beat evolution and the law of survival.

MARGARET

But his talent, his fine talent--and his exquisite nature!

ROGER

I know. But there it is. It's kinder in the long run to be cruel, if the
truth is cruel. We've got to be true to things as they are.

MARGARET

But take things as they are! He wasn't vicious about--about women, he was
like a child. Of course they got his money, but even so, they weren't all
mere schemers. Some of them were very decent. Why, one of them--

ROGER

What the deuce do _you_ know about them? What about one of them?

MARGARET

She cried. She said she knew it wasn't right, that he couldn't marry her,
but she did like him, and she had children of her own.... I'm sure she was
very tender to him.

ROGER

Who told you? Where did you see her?

MARGARET

_There._

ROGER

There! In my own house?

MARGARET

Yes.

ROGER

How did _she_ get there?

MARGARET

Your mother sent for her.

ROGER

My mother sent for her? Then she knew?

MARGARET

Yes. She knew everything.

ROGER

How?

MARGARET

_He_ told her--Arthur did.

ROGER

Good Lord! I never heard a word of it.

MARGARET

No. They were afraid--afraid you wouldn't understand.

ROGER

Afraid _I_ wouldn't understand? Why, _I_ understood only too well. It was
mother that wouldn't have understood. I'd have cut my hand off rather than
tell her.

MARGARET

Well, she did understand. She understood better than you did. She
understood that part of him hadn't grown up. He was like a boy. He just
walked into things....

ROGER

How did he ever come to tell _her_?

MARGARET

Once when he was sick. Your mother was taking care of him. He blurted it
all out, like a homesick boy.

ROGER

And _she_ understood? Didn't break her heart, and all that?

MARGARET

Oh, it was a shock, naturally. But they talked it all over, and your
mother sent for this woman. I knew. Arthur knew I knew....

ROGER

And mother packed her away without telling me?

MARGARET

Oh, she didn't pack her away. That is, right off.

ROGER

He kept on seeing her? With mother's knowledge?

MARGARET

Yes. Your mother liked her.

ROGER

Well, if women aren't the strangest things!

MARGARET

Yes, they are. Some of them. Fortunately. But you see how wrong you were,
Roger?

ROGER

How was I wrong?

MARGARET

About this unfitness--t