INGOLDSBY (_his own agitation increasing_)
Episode? See here, Fannie; you know why I stayed a bachelor. You do know.
No, no! I have no responsibility for that!
Haven’t you? When you broke your engagement to me--
MRS. BRIGGS (_crying out, though she suppresses the loudness of her voice_)
It was not. I’ve held my peace in silence all these years because of my principles. I wouldn’t refer to such things with you when you had become a married woman. But I can speak now. You deliberately broke off with me--
You did! (_He paces the floor as he goes on._) You decided Lance Briggs was the better man, and you sent me my ring and letters without a single word explaining why you did it.
Fair? How _dare_ you speak of _fairness_ to _me_?
I did indeed! It was simply because you were of a fickle nature. Of course you didn’t have the courage to explain _that_.
But you don’t know the pressure, the awful pressure my mother brought to bear on me. She simply _made_ me marry him, Henry. It was night and day, day and night, week in, week out--
And you never for one moment had the simple bravery, the simple _loyalty_ to the man you’d given your word to--
Henry, you _must_ listen to me! (_She puts her hand on his arm._)
Why didn’t you say that _then_? Why didn’t--
I loved you--I did, Henry! I simply let my mother break my will and wreck our two lives.
What folly! You were perfectly happy with Briggs. I don’t know _how_ many people told me you were.
I did my duty, and I tried to do it cheerfully; but the scar was always there, Henry.
It was, Henry. (_She sinks into the chair Jessie has occupied._)
It was, Henry--the scar was always there. (_Her head droops._)
(_He walks across the room, then returns to her and looks down upon her._)
MRS. BRIGGS (_tremulously, not looking up_)
I--I heard you became very--very prosperous in--in real estate.
Yes. What’s that to fill a man’s life? Look at the difference! You have children to be a comfort to you in your--your--as you approach middle age. I have nothing.
MRS. BRIGGS (_pathetically, still looking down_)
I tell you I have nothing--nothing in the world to make life worth living, not a thing on earth! (_He glances about, then sits beside her and speaks in a very low voice._) Fannie--Fannie--