CANDIDA (with quick suspicion). Tell me what? (His eyes avoid hers furtively. She turns and mutely transfers the question to Morell.)
MORELL (bracing himself for the catastrophe). I have nothing to tell her, except (here his voice deepens to a measured and mournful tenderness) that she is my greatest treasure on earth—if she is really mine.
CANDIDA (coldly, offended by his yielding to his orator's instinct and treating her as if she were the audience at the Guild of St. Matthew). I am sure Eugene can say no less, if that is all.
MARCHBANKS (discouraged). Morell: she's laughing at us.
MORELL (with a quick touch of temper). There is nothing to laugh at. Are you laughing at us, Candida?
CANDIDA (with quiet anger). Eugene is very quick-witted, James. I hope I am going to laugh; but I am not sure that I am not going to be very angry. (She goes to the fireplace, and stands there leaning with her arm on the mantelpiece and her foot on the fender, whilst Eugene steals to Morell and plucks him by the sleeve.)
MARCHBANKS (whispering). Stop Morell. Don't let us say anything.
MORELL (pushing Eugene away without deigning to look at him). I hope you don't mean that as a threat, Candida.
CANDIDA (with emphatic warning). Take care, James. Eugene: I asked you to go. Are you going?
MORELL (putting his foot down). He shall not go. I wish him to remain.