LUCIE. Annette—don’t say that. Hush, my darling, hush. In the first place, everything hasn’t been tried. You have entreated these people; now we must threaten.
ANNETTE. It’ll be no use.
LUCIE. It will be of use. The way they’re hurrying away shews how afraid they are of scandal. As soon as my husband comes in I will tell him all about it.
ANNETTE. Oh, my God!
LUCIE. He will go down and see them. He will threaten them with an action. They will give in.
ANNETTE. We can’t bring an action against them. He told me so.
LUCIE. Then there are other ways of defending you. Believe me, I’m sure of it.
ANNETTE. There are not.
LUCIE. There are. And even if there weren’t, you mustn’t talk of dying at your age. Am I not here? Annette, Annette, my little one, I will help you through this trouble! You believe me, don’t you? You know how I love you? You know that mother left you in my care? I’ll help you and comfort you and love you so well that you’ll forget.
ANNETTE. Forget!