Sally comes back. She is more hurried than before.
SALLY Ellen! Ellen! I have wonders to tell. Where is Cornelius, at all? He's never here when you have wonders to tell.
ELLEN
What have you to tell?
SALLY Oh, I don't know how I'll get it all out! Matt and father had an odious falling out, and it was about you. And Matt's going to America; and he's to bring you with him. And Cornelius was saying that if father found out about yourself and Matt—
ELLEN
Sally, Sally, take breath and tell it.
SALLY Matt is going to America, like the others, and he's taking you with him.
ELLEN
Sally, Sally, is it the truth you're telling?
SALLY
It is the truth. Honest as day, it is the truth.
ELLEN And I thought I'd be content with a new house. Now we can go away together. I can see what I longed to see. I have a chance of knowing what is in me. (She takes Sally's hands) It's great news you've brought me. No one ever brought me such news before. Take this little cross. You won't have a chance of getting fond of me after all. (She wears a cross at her throat; she breaks the string, and gives it to Sally)
SALLY I don't know why I was so fervent to tell you. There's the stool before me that myself and Cornelius were sitting on, and he saying—(She goes to the door) Here's Matt! Now we'll hear all about it.