ISOBEL. No. I don’t know why. How hopeful we are. How—unbreakable. If I were God, I should be very proud of Man.
ROYCE. Let Him go on being proud of you.
ISOBEL. Oh, I’m tough. You can’t be a nurse without being tough. I shan’t break.
[248]ROYCE. And just a smile occasionally?
ISOBEL (smiling). And even perhaps just a smile occasionally?
ROYCE. Thank you.
(WILLIAM comes in fussily. But there is a suppressed air of excitement about him. He has OLIVER’S letter in his hand.)
WILLIAM. Isobel, there are two pass-books missing—two of the early ones. I thought you had found them all. You haven’t seen them, Mr. Royce?
ROYCE. No, I’ve had nothing to do with them.
WILLIAM. You found most of the early ones in the bottom drawer of his desk, you told me.