Lucy. And if I had, it would only be just. Haven’t you supplanted me in my home?
Alma. It wasn’t my fault that you left your home. You left because you were suspicious of your husband.
Lucy. I had reason to be.
Alma. Oh, probably enough! Men are a bad lot, and he’s one of them.
Lucy. Ned wasn’t bad!
Alma. Why did you leave him then? (turning on her quickly) You love him? (thrusting her on sofa, and kneeling down beside her) Yes, you do, or you wouldn’t resent the way I spoke of him; and loving him, you should have trusted him.
Lucy. To be deceived!
Alma. Better to trust and be deceived, than to suspect and deceive yourself. You’re a fond, foolish girl, who’ve done your best to wreck your own life and your husband’s too. You’ve done me a great wrong, and now I’m going to have my revenge.
Lucy. What wrong have I done you?
Alma. You think I love your husband, but I don’t. I never loved any man but one—my own. You think your husband loves me, but he doesn’t. Nobody loves me—not even my own.