JOY. Yes.

d.i.c.k. Joy, what is the matter?

JOY. I 've got something to tell him.

d.i.c.k. What? [With sudden inspiration.] Is it about Lever?

JOY. [In a low voice.] The mine.

d.i.c.k. The mine?

JOY. It 's not--not a proper one.

d.i.c.k. How do you mean, Joy?

JOY. I overheard. I don't care, I listened. I would n't if it had been anybody else, but I hate him.

d.i.c.k. [Gravely.] What did you hear?

JOY. He 's keeping back something Uncle Tom ought to know.

d.i.c.k. Are you sure?

[Joy makes a rush to pa.s.s him.]

[Barring the way.] No, wait a minute--you must! Was it something that really matters?--I don't want to know what.

JOY. Yes, it was.

d.i.c.k. What a beastly thing--are you quite certain, Joy?

JOY. [Between her teeth.] Yes.

d.i.c.k. Then you must tell him, of course, even if you did overhear.

You can't stand by and see the Colonel swindled. Whom was he talking to?

JOY. I won't tell you.

d.i.c.k. [Taking her wrist.] Was it was it your Mother?

[Joy bends her head.]

But if it was your Mother, why does n't she----

JOY. Let me go!

d.i.c.k. [Still holding her.] I mean I can't see what----

JOY. [Pa.s.sionately.] Let me go!

d.i.c.k. [Releasing her.] I'm thinking of your Mother, Joy. She would never----

JOY. [Covering her face.] That man!

d.i.c.k. But joy, just think! There must be some mistake. It 's so queer--it 's quite impossible!

JOY. He won't let her.

d.i.c.k. Won't let her--won't let her? But [Stopping dead, and in a very different voice.] Oh!

JOY. [Pa.s.sionately.] Why d' you look at me like that? Why can't you speak?

[She waits for him to speak, but he does not.]

I'm going to show what he is, so that Mother shan't speak to him again. I can--can't I--if I tell Uncle Tom?--can't I----?

d.i.c.k. But Joy--if your Mother knows a thing like--that----

JOY. She wanted to tell--she begged him--and he would n't.

d.i.c.k. But, joy, dear, it means----

JOY. I hate him, I want to make her hate him, and I will.

d.i.c.k. But, Joy, dear, don't you see--if your Mother knows a thing like that, and does n't speak of it, it means that she--it means that you can't make her hate him--it means----If it were anybody else-- but, well, you can't give your own Mother away!

JOY. How dare you! How dare you! [Turning to the hollow tree.] It is n't true--Oh! it is n't true!

d.i.c.k. [In deep distress.] Joy, dear, I never meant, I didn't really!

[He tries to pull her hands down from her face.]

JOY. [Suddenly.] Oh! go away, go away!

[MRS. GWYN is seen coming back. JOY springs into the tree.

d.i.c.k quickly steals away. MRS. GWYN goes up to the chair and takes the scarf that she has come for, and is going again when JOY steals out to her.]

Mother!

[MRS. GWYN stands looking at her with her teeth set on her lower lip.]

Oh! Mother, it is n't true?

MRS. GWYN. [Very still.] What is n't true?

JOY. That you and he are----

[Searching her Mother's face, which is deadly still. In a whisper.]