SYBIL [who would be more courageous if she could hold his hand]. And
I also.

MAGGIE [soothingly]. I'm sure you are. But as it can't be helped I
see no reason why we three shouldn't talk the matter over in a
practical way.

[SYBIL looks doubtful, but JOHN hangs on desperately to the word
practical.]

JOHN. If you could understand, Maggie, what an inspiration she is to
me and my work.

SYBIL. Indeed, Mrs. Shand, I think of nothing else.

MAGGIE. That's fine. That's as it should be.

SYBIL [talking too much]. Mrs. Shand, I think you are very kind to
take it so reasonably.

MAGGIE. That's the Scotch way. When were you thinking of leaving me,
John?

[Perhaps this is the Scotch way also; but SYBIL is English, and from
the manner in which she starts you would say that something has
fallen on her toes.]

JOHN [who has heard nothing fall]. I think, now that it has come to a
breach, the sooner the better. [His tone becomes that of JAMES when