HILARY. [_Staring at her_] You don’t say a word. One would think you weren’t glad to see me. Aren’t you glad to see me?
MARGARET. Of course--glad--you poor Hilary!
HILARY. If you knew what it is to say to myself--I’m at home! That place--!
MARGARET. [_Mechanically_] Oh, but there was every comfort.
MARGARET. [_Insisting_] But they were good to you?
MARGARET. [_In acute distress_] They didn’t--ill-treat--?
SYDNEY. Mother, you know you did the very best--
HILARY. If it had been heaven--what difference does it make? I was a dead man. Do you know what the dead do in heaven? They sit on their golden chairs and sicken for home. Why did you never come?
MARGARET. They wouldn’t let me. It made you worse.
HILARY. My voice didn’t--and my speech and my actions didn’t. But _I_ knew you. Meg--behind the curtain--behind the dreams and the noises, and the abandonment of God--I wanted you. I wanted--I wanted-- [_He puts his hand to his head._] Look here--I tell you we mustn’t talk of these things. It’s not safe, I tell you. When I talk I see a black hand reaching up through the floor--do you see? there--through the widening crack of the floor--to catch me by the ankle and drag--drag--
SYDNEY. It’s all right, Mother! We’ll manage.
HILARY. [_Turning to her_] Yes, you tell your mother. I’m all right! You understand that, don’t you? Once it was a real hand. Now I know it’s in my mind. I tell you, Meg, I’m well. But it’s not safe to think about anything but--Oh, my dear, the holly and the crackle of the fire and the snow like a veil of peace on me--and you like the snow--so still--
_He comes to her with outstretched arms._
HILARY. [_Exalted_] Yes--yes--yes! [_He catches her to him._]
BASSETT. [_Entering_] Lunch is served, Ma’am!
SYDNEY. Lay an extra cover. This--my--this gentleman is staying to lunch.
HILARY. [_Boisterously_] Staying to lunch! to lunch! That’s a good joke, isn’t it? I say, listen! I’m laughing. Do you know, I’m laughing? It’s blessed to laugh. Staying to lunch! Yes, my girl! Lunch and tea and supper and breakfast, thank God! and for many a long day!
_The curtain rises on_ MARGARET’S _drawing-room. It is prettily furnished in a gentle, white-walled, water-colour-in-gold-frame fashion, and is full of flowers. In one corner is a parrot in a cage, and near it_ MISS FAIRFIELD’S _arm-chair and foot-stool and work-table. The fire-place has a white sheepskin in front of it, and brass fire-irons: on the mantel-piece is a gilt clock and many photographs. At right angles to the fire a low empire couch runs out into the room. There is a hint of_ SYDNEY _in the ultra-modern cushionry with which it is piled. As the curtain goes up_ BASSETT _is showing in_ GRAY MEREDITH.