“Mrs. Caws, Mrs. Thorbald doesn’t like this place,” said Peter stupefied with anger. Clarinda stopped him.
“I shall tell Mrs. Caws, Peter,” she said quickly. “Please, Mrs. Caws, will you be kind enough to dismiss the servants. Mr. Thorbald and I have decided to go away for sometime. You will see to the closing of the house. That is all, Mrs. Caws.”
Mrs. Caws went out.
“It is done, Peter.”
“Do you think that settles it, Clarinda?”
“Yes, that settles it, Peter,” and Clarinda smiled wearily as she rose and left the room.
STAGE TWO
I
A great deal of water had run under the bridge since Clarinda had left the big house and gone back to the flat. A great deal more water had run under the bridge before Clarinda had consented to come back to the big house and had settled permanently in its rooms and halls.
Her child had been born, it had thrived and grown, her father had aged. Rarely he came to the house unless he was assisted by his man, and then only when the sun was bright and the sky unclouded. Peter had grown more successful and had acquired the Midian touch. Gold came to him as penury comes to most. His arrogance and bombast had grown greater. Her mother remained in the background. Removed from all contact with Clarinda and her life, she came to the house very seldom and then only to complain. She appeared to think her duty toward Clarinda finished and reasoned as she had given Clarinda birth, raised her to womanhood and married her off, she had done for her all that a mother could do.