[Carteret has the letter in his hand still. He looks at the bottom of the page he has read and turns it over with shaking hands, and reads what is on the next].
Rachel [almost beside herself]. Now you know it's true. You see yourself what it says.
[Carteret waits a moment, gazing at the page, then looks up at her].
Carteret. It doesn't say so.
Rachel [petrified, looks at him, her lips forming the words, almost in a whisper]. Doesn't say so!
Carteret. No! [reading]—'to Mary Carteret—his [pause] god-child!'
Rachel [gives a smothered cry]. Oh! It's not in the letter—and I told you—I myself….
Carteret [with a sudden impulse of hope]. Rachel, I still don't believe it. You don't know what you are saying.
Rachel. Yes, yes, I tell you, it's true—and I've told you—I did—if I hadn't, you wouldn't have known.
Carteret. What—it is true then! and that is all you can think of—that you needn't have told me—that if you had not, you could have gone on pretending….