Hyacinth—Well, he disposed of the rose-garden very neatly.
Beatrice—[Rises.] What did I tell you? Could anything have been more pointed? You heard that Colonel. I scarcely got the rose-garden out of my mouth when he came forward with the cows.
Hyacinth—A coincidence.
Beatrice—[Heatedly.] Was it? Well, I shan't be beaten by such a coincidence.
Hyacinth—I observed that your first attempts in that direction were without conspicuous success.
Beatrice—I shan't give up as long as there is a ray of hope, an hour of time left.
Symphorosa—What are you going to do now?
Beatrice—There is only one way left.
Symphorosa—What way?
Beatrice—Only one. A terrible way.
Symphorosa—You alarm me, Beatrice.
Beatrice—Yes, you may well be alarmed. For what I propose to do is so reprehensible that, if anyone else did it, I'd despise her all my life.
Hyacinth—What in Heaven's name are you thinking of?
Beatrice—God will forgive a mother anything she does for her child. And a widow what she does for the welfare of her family. [She faces Hyacinth with tears in her eyes.] You will forgive me.
