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BERTLEY。 Do you mean he deliberately sat down； with the
intentionofer？
WELLWYN。 Said he was tired of life； but they didn't believe him。
ANN。 Rather a score for Sir Thomas！ I suppose he'd told the
Professor？ What did he say？
WELLWYN。 Well； the Professor said ＇with a quick glance at BERTLEY＇
he felt there was nothing for some of these poor devils but a lethal
chamber。
BERTLEY。 ＇Shocked。＇ Did he really！
＇He has not yet caught WELLWYN' s glance。＇
WELLWYN。 And Sir Thomas agreed。 Historic occasion。 And you； Vicar
H'm！
＇BERTLEY winces。＇
ANN。 ＇To herself。＇ Well； there isn't。
BERTLEY。 And yet！ Some good in the old fellow； no doubt； if one
could put one's finger on it。 ＇Preparing to go。＇ You'll let us
know； then； when you're settled。 What was the address？ ＇WELLWYN
takes out and hands him a card。＇ Ah！ yes。 Good…bye； Ann。
Good…bye； Wellyn。 ＇The wind blows his hat along the street。＇ What
a wind！ ＇He goes； pursuing。＇
ANN。 ＇Who has eyed the card askance。＇ Daddy； have you told those
other two where we're going？
WELLWYN。 Which other two； my dear？
ANN。 The Professor and Sir Thomas。
WELLWYN。 Well； Ann； naturally I
ANN。 ＇Jumping on to the dais with disgust。＇ Oh； dear！ When I'm
trying to get you away from all this atmosphere。 I don't so much
mind the Vicar knowing； because he's got a weak heart
＇She jumps off again。 ＇
WELLWYN。 ＇To himself。＇ Seventh floor！ I felt there was something。
ANN。 ＇Preparing to go。＇ I'm going round now。 But you must stay
here till the van comes back。 And don't forget you tipped the men
after the first load。
WELLWYN。 Oh！ Yes； yes。 ＇Uneasily。＇ Good sorts they look； those
fellows！
ANN。 ＇Scrutinising him。＇ What have you done？
WELLWYN。 Nothing； my dear； really！
ANN。 What？
WELLWYN。 II rather think I may have tipped them twice。
ANN。 ＇Drily。＇ Daddy！ If it is the first of April； it's not
necessary to make a fool of oneself。 That's the last time you ever
do these ridiculous things。 ＇WELLWYN eyes her askance。＇ I'm going
to see that you spend your money on yourself。 You needn't look at
me like that！ I mean to。 As soon as I've got you away from here；
and allthese
WELLWYN。 Don't rub it in； Ann！
ANN。 ＇Giving him a sudden hugthen going to the doorwith a sort
of triumph。＇ Deeds； not words； Daddy！
＇She goes out； and the wind catching her scarf blows it out
beneath her firm young chin。 WELLWYN returning to the fire；
stands brooding； and gazing at his extinct cigarette。
WELLWYN。 ＇To himself。＇ Bad lotlow type！ No method！ No theory！
＇In the open doorway appear FERRAND and MRS。 MEGAN。 They
stand； unseen； looking at him。 FERRAND is more ragged； if
possible； than on Christmas Eve。 His chin and cheeks are
clothed in a reddish golden beard。 MRS。 MEGAN's dress is not
so woe…begone； but her face is white； her eyes dark…circled。
They whisper。 She slips back into the shadow of the doorway。
WELLWYN turns at the sound； and stares at FERRAND in
amazement。＇
FERRAND。 ＇Advancing。＇ Enchanted to see you； Monsieur。 ＇He looks
round the empty room。＇ You are leaving？
WELLWYN。 ＇Noddingthen taking the young man's hand。＇ How goes it？
FERRAND。 ＇Displaying himself； simply。＇ As you see； Monsieur。 I
have done of my best。 It still flies from me。
WELLWYN。 ＇Sadlyas if against his will。＇ Ferrand； it will always
fly。
＇The young foreigner shivers suddenly from head to foot； then
controls himself with a great effort。＇
FERRAND。 Don't say that； Monsieur！ It is too much the echo of my
heart。
WELLWYN。 Forgive me！ I didn't mean to pain you。
FERRAND。 ＇Drawing nearer the fire。＇ That old cabby； Monsieur； you
rememberthey tell me； he nearly succeeded to gain happiness the
other day。
＇WELLWYN nods。＇
FERRAND。 And those Sirs； so interested in him； with their theories？
He has worn them out？ ＇WELLWYN nods。＇ That goes without saying。
And now they wish for him the lethal chamber。
WELLWYN。 ＇Startled。＇ How did you know that？
＇There is silence。
FERRAND。 ＇Staring into the fire。＇ Monsieur； while I was on the
road this time I fell ill of a fever。 It seemed to me in my illness
that I saw the truthhow I was wasting in this worldI would never
be good for any onenor any one for meall would go by； and I
never of itfame； and fortune； and peace； even the necessities of
life； ever mocking me。
＇He draws closer to the fire； spreading his fingers to the
flame。 And while he is speaking； through the doorway MRS。
MEGAN creeps in to listen。＇
FERRAND。 ＇Speaking on into the fire。＇ And I saw； Monsieur； so
plain； that I should be vagabond all my days； and my days short； I
dying in the end the death of a dog。 I saw it all in my fever
clear as that flamethere was nothing for us others； but the herb
of death。 ＇WELLWYN takes his arm and presses it。＇ And so；
Monsieur； I wished to die。 I told no one of my fever。 I lay out on
the groundit was verree cold。 But they would not let me die on
the roads of their parishesthey took me to an Institution；
Monsieur； I looked in their eyes while I lay there； and I saw more
clear than the blue heaven that they thought it best that I should
die； although they would not let me。 Then Monsieur； naturally my
spirit rose； and I said： 〃So much the worse for you。 I will live a
little more。〃 One is made like that！ Life is sweet； Monsieur。
WELLWYN。 Yes； Ferrand； Life is sweet。
FERRAND。 That little girl you had here； Monsieur ＇WELLWYN nods。＇
in her too there is something of wild…savage。 She must have joy of
life。 I have seen her since I came back。 She has embraced the life
of joy。 It is not quite the same thing。 ＇He lowers his voice。＇
She is lost； Monsieur； as a stone that sinks in water。 I can see；
if she cannot。 ＇As WELLWYN makes a movement of distress。＇ Oh！ I
am not to blame for that； Monsieur。 It had well begun before I knew
her。
WELLWYN。 Yes； yesI was afraid of it； at the time。
＇MRS。 MEGAN turns silently； and slips away。＇
FEERRAND。 I do my best for her； Monsieur； but look at me！ Besides；
I am not good for herit is not good for simple souls to be with
those who see things clear。 For the great part of mankind； to see
anythingis fatal。
WELLWYN。 Even for you； it seems。
FERRAND。 No； Monsieur。 To be so near to death has done me good； I
shall not lack courage any more till the wind blows on my grave。
Since I saw you； Monsieur； I have been in three Institutions。 They
are palaces。 One may eat upon the floorthough it is truefor
Kingsthey eat too much of skilly there。 One little thing they
lackthose palaces。 It is understanding of the 'uman heart。 In
them tame birds pluck wild birds naked。
WELLWYN。 They mean well。
FERRAND。 Ah！ Monsieur； I am loafer； wasterwhat you likefor all
that ＇bitterly＇ poverty is my only crime。 If I were rich； should
I not be simply veree original； 'ighly respected； with soul above
commerce； travelling to see the world？ And that young girl； would
she not be 〃that charming ladee；〃 〃veree chic； you know！〃 And the
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