ESSIE.
No.
JUDITH.
That’s a good girl! (She places a couple of chairs at the table with their backs to the window, with a pleasant sense of being a more thoughtful housekeeper than Mrs. Dudgeon.) Do you know any of your father’s relatives?
ESSIE.
No. They wouldn’t have anything to do with him: they were too religious. Father used to talk about Dick Dudgeon; but I never saw him.
JUDITH.
(ostentatiously shocked). Dick Dudgeon! Essie: do you wish to be a really respectable and grateful girl, and to make a place for yourself here by steady good conduct?
ESSIE.
(very half-heartedly). Yes.
JUDITH.
Then you must never mention the name of Richard Dudgeon—never even think about him. He is a bad man.
ESSIE.
What has he done?
JUDITH.
You must not ask questions about him, Essie. You are too young to know what it is to be a bad man. But he is a smuggler; and he lives with gypsies; and he has no love for his mother and his family; and he wrestles and plays games on Sunday instead of going to church. Never let him into your presence, if you can help it, Essie; and try to keep yourself and all womanhood unspotted by contact with such men.
ESSIE.
Yes.
JUDITH.
(again displeased). I am afraid you say Yes and No without thinking very deeply.