Who is there to trust? I mean to betray some one who trusts me.
Elizabeth.
My dear, I think you had better come in from that window. [Turns.] What can you see to keep you out there?
Vera.
Would you like to know? [Elizabeth shows increasing emotion during this speech of Vera's.] I see a sort of wide bottomless sheet of water,—it is only the spread of moonlight, you know. A great wide sheet of water—down there—and there is some one drowning in it. I can see his two eyes looking up to me from the depths of it, and there are his hands somewhere reaching out to me for help; and, do you know what, Elizabeth? I shall reach down and down until I can grip them, and then I shall hold him under the water till he is cold and dead—— he is cold already. That is what I see. It isn't a cheerful thing, is it? And then,—I don't know what it will be then; but now I can only see the eyes: they are not really like a man's eyes, they are like a child's eyes full of pain, and—[turns and looks at Elizabeth]—so trusting and innocent, like a little child being murdered!
Elizabeth.
[With a shriek.] No, no! God help me! Not a child's eyes! Not you too! Oh, say you don't see them!
Vera.
[Coming towards her.] Elizabeth! What is it? I have never seen you like this.