RICHARD. [_Violently._] And you have the courage to say that to me?
BERTHA. [_Facing him._] Yes, I have! Both then and now. Because I am simple you think you can do what you like with me. [_Gesticulating._] Follow him now. Call him names. Make him be humble before you and make him despise me. Follow him!
RICHARD. [_Controlling himself._] You forget that I have allowed you complete liberty—and allow you it still.
RICHARD. Yes, complete. But he must know that I know. [_More calmly._] I will speak to him quietly. [_Appealing._] Bertha, believe me, dear! It is not jealousy. You have complete liberty to do as you wish—you and he. But not in this way. He will not despise you. You don’t wish to deceive me or to pretend to deceive me—with him, do you?
BERTHA. No, I do not. [_Looking full at him._] Which of us two is the deceiver?
BERTHA. [_In a calm decided tone._] I know why you have allowed me what you call complete liberty.
BERTHA. To have complete liberty with—that girl.
RICHARD. [_Irritated._] But, good God, you knew about that this long time. I never hid it.
BERTHA. You did. I thought it was a kind of friendship between you—till we came back, and then I saw.
BERTHA. [_Shakes her head._] No, no. It is much more; and that is why you give me complete liberty. All those things you sit up at night to write about [_pointing to the study_] in there—about her. You call that friendship?
RICHARD. Believe me, Bertha dear. Believe me as I believe you.
BERTHA. [_With an impulsive gesture._] My God, I feel it! I know it! What else is between you but love?
RICHARD. [_Calmly._] You are trying to put that idea into my head but I warn you that I don’t take my ideas from other people.
BERTHA. [_Hotly._] It is, it is! And that is why you allow him to go on. Of course! It doesn’t affect you. You love her.
RICHARD. Love! [_Throws out his hands with a sigh and moves away from her._] I cannot argue with you.
BERTHA. You can’t because I am right. [_Following him a few steps._] What would anyone say?
RICHARD. [_Turns to her._] Do you think I care?
BERTHA. But I care. What would he say if he knew? You, who talk so much of the high kind of feeling you have for me, expressing yourself in that way to another woman. If he did it, or other men, I could understand because they are false pretenders. But you, Dick! Why do you not tell him then?