COOK. [Soothingly] Perhaps she's repented, ma'am.
MRS MARCH. Of course she's repented. But did you ever know repentance change anybody, Cook?
COOK. [Smiling] Well, generally it's a way of gettin' ready for the next.
MRS MARCH. Exactly.
MR MARCH. If we never get another chance because we repent—
COOK. I always think of Master Johnny, ma'am, and my jam; he used to repent so beautiful, dear little feller—such a conscience! I never could bear to lock it away.
MRS MARCH. Cook, you're wandering. I'm surprised at your encouraging the idea; I really am.
Cook plaits her hands.
MR MARCH. Cook's been in the family longer than I have—haven't you, Cook? [COOK beams] She knows much more about a girl like that than we do.
COOK. We had a girl like her, I remember, in your dear mother's time, Mr Geoffrey.