[Smiling.] If you could only say that to him—just in that way, as if you really felt it—you would make him so happy.

[There is a pause. Grace puts her hands in front of her eyes, and she keeps them there for a moment so that she should not see Archibald while she is speaking.

Grace.

Archibald, I want to speak to you for a minute—as a clergyman.

Archibald.

My dear Grace, you frighten me.

Grace.

I’m sorry if I’ve been often bitter and unkind to you. I’m ashamed when I think of all the silly, cruel things I must have said to you during the ten years I’ve lived here.

Archibald.

[Cheerfully.] Oh, what nonsense! You’ve got a clever tongue, and like most people who have, you can’t resist saying a sharp thing when it strikes you.