MARCHBANKS. I'll go. I'll do whatever you want. (He turns to the door.)
CANDIDA. Stop! (He obeys.) Didn't you hear James say he wished you to stay? James is master here. Don't you know that?
MARCHBANKS (flushing with a young poet's rage against tyranny). By what right is he master?
CANDIDA (quietly). Tell him, James.
MORELL (taken aback). My dear: I don't know of any right that makes me master. I assert no such right.
CANDIDA (with infinite reproach). You don't know! Oh, James, James! (To Eugene, musingly.) I wonder do you understand, Eugene! No: you're too young. Well, I give you leave to stay—to stay and learn. (She comes away from the hearth and places herself between them.) Now, James: what's the matter? Come: tell me.
MARCHBANKS (whispering tremulously across to him). Don't.
CANDIDA. Come. Out with it!
MORELL (slowly). I meant to prepare your mind carefully, Candida, so as to prevent misunderstanding.
CANDIDA. Yes, dear: I am sure you did. But never mind: I shan't misunderstand.