JUDITH (revolted). Oh! (Vehemently) Do you realise that you are
going to kill yourself?

RICHARD. The only man I have any right to kill, Mrs. Anderson.
Don't be concerned: no woman will lose her lover through my
death. (Smiling) Bless you, nobody cares for me. Have you heard
that my mother is dead?

JUDITH. Dead!

RICHARD. Of heart disease--in the night. Her last word to me was
her curse: I don't think I could have borne her blessing. My
other relatives will not grieve much on my account. Essie will
cry for a day or two; but I have provided for her: I made my own
will last night.

JUDITH (stonily, after a moment's silence). And I!

RICHARD (surprised). You?

JUDITH. Yes, I. Am I not to care at all?

RICHARD (gaily and bluntly). Not a scrap. Oh, you expressed your
feelings towards me very frankly yesterday. What happened may
have softened you for the moment; but believe me, Mrs. Anderson,
you don't like a bone in my skin or a hair on my head. I shall be
as good a riddance at 12 today as I should have been at 12
yesterday.