Sir H. Tom, do you recognise that picture?
Tom. (surprised) It’s my stupid knights!
Sir H. Ned gave it Mrs. Blake. You know the story?
Tom. Didn’t I tell it you?
Sir H. Yet, you’ve not learnt its lesson. After you left my house so suddenly, upon your recognition of your wife, I wouldn’t meet you. I was like those knights. I didn’t see what purpose it would serve. But I was wrong.
Tom. As I am now. You’re right. Thank you for bringing me, whatever comes of it.
Sir H. You have your portion of that letter?
Tom. (putting hat down on sofa) Here it is. (gives it to Sir Humphrey. Re-enter Alma, R.C. Sir Humphrey goes to meet her, and takes from her the paper in her hand—then leads her near to Tom, and takes his place between them, glancing meanwhile over the note)
Sir H. Mrs. Blake, I was just reminding Mr. Potter of an old fable you may perhaps have heard. Once on a time there were two knights who fought about a certain silver shield. Silver, as one called it—the other called it gold. When they had killed each other, so the story runs, it was discovered both of them were right, and, at the same time, both of them were wrong. The shield was gold on one side, silver on the other. Years afterwards the spirits of those knights revisited the earth. They took the form, the one of a young husband, and the other of his wife. They loved one another, but they were unhappy. The wife was a coquette. I’m sure she meant no harm but she incurred her husband’s anger. He remonstrated with her; and the result was she resolved to say good-bye to her admirers. She wrote to one of them to tell him so. When she had written the first sheet she put it in her desk; and in the middle of the next was interrupted. Her husband, finding it, and thinking it was meant for him, left her. (pause) Six years they lived apart. Each had one portion of the letter, and each showed it to a common friend, when it occurred to this same common friend to put the sheets together—(does so)—and lo! he found that each of them was right again, and each of them again was wrong. He took upon him to reverse the sheets—(reverses them)—and asked to hear them read aloud together. (looks at Tom) The husband held the first sheet, and began. (hands Alma’s sheet to Tom)
Tom. (reads) “You will consider this a very cruel letter, but I mean it kindly. Something has occurred to show me I’ve been acting very foolishly, and deceiving both my husband and you. You may think me heartless and fickle; but I haven’t really changed. I always loved him in my heart of hearts. I know he doesn’t like me seeing you; and to continue seeing you against his will would be like saying to——”