ROSE. Good-bye, sir. Thank you for all your kindness. I've been very wicked----
(_Throws her arms round ANDREW'S neck, clings to him, sobs convulsively for some moments in a paroxysm of grief. MICHAEL watches them for some moments._)
MICH. (_intercepts, gently separates them_). It's more than she can bear. Say good-bye, and let her go.
ANDR. (_breaking down_). Good-bye, my dear! (_Kissing her._) Good-bye--I--I--I----
(_Tears himself away, goes up to window, stands back to audience._)
MICH. (_To ROSE._) No more tears! Tears are for evil and sin, and yours are all past! Write to me and tell me how you get on, and how you like the work. It will bring you great peace--great peace. Why, you are comforted already--I think I see one of your old happy smiles coming. What do you think, sister, isn't that the beginning of a smile?
ROSE. Good-bye, sir--thank you for all your goodness. I--I---- (_Beginning to sob again._)
MICH. No, no, you are forgetting. I must see a little smile before you go. Look, Andrew. (_ANDREW turns round._) For your father's sake. When you have gone you will like him to remember that the last time he saw your face it wore a smile. That's brave! Good-bye! Good-bye!
(_ROSE with great effort forces a smile and goes off with the Sister. A moment or two later she is seen to pass the window sobbing in the Sister's arms._)
ANDR. Look! Oh, sir, was it bound to be in public, before everybody who knew her?
MICH. Believe me, Andrew, if my own sister, if my own child had been in your daughter's place, I would have counselled her to act as your daughter has done.
ANDR. She'll never hold up her head again.
MICH. Would you rather that she held up her head in deceit and defiance, or that she held it down in grief and penitence? Think what you and she have endured this last year, the deceit, the agony, the shame, the guilt!
ANDR. I can't think of anything except her standing up in the church. I shall never forget it.
MICH. Tell me you know I would willingly have spared you and her if it had been possible.
MICH. I have done to you this morning as I would wish to be done by if I had followed a course of continued deception.
ANDR. Ah, sir, it's easy for you to talk. You aren't likely to be tempted, so you aren't likely to fall.