Exiles

simple gift⁠—like myself. If you want to know it I will tell you. Bertha Looking at her watch. Past is past, Robert. And I think I ought to go now. It is nine almost. Robert Impetuously. No, no. Not yet. There is one confession more and we have the right to speak. He crosses before the table rapidly and sits down beside her. Bertha Turning towards him, places her left hand on his shoulder. Yes, Robert. I know that you like me. You need not tell me. Kindly. You need not confess any more tonight. A gust of wind enters through the porch, with a sound of moving leaves. The lamp flickers quickly. Bertha Pointing over his shoulder. Look! It is too high. Without rising, he bends towards the table, and turns down the wick more. The room is half dark. The light comes in more strongly through the doorway of the bedroom. Robert The wind is rising. I will close that door. Bertha Listening. No, it is raining still. It was only a gust of wind. Robert Touches her shoulder. Tell me if the air is too cold for you. Half rising. I will close it. Bertha Detaining him. No. I am not cold. Besides, I am going now, Robert. I must. Robert Firmly. No, no. There is no must now. We were left here for this. And you are wrong, Bertha. The past is not past. It is present here now. My feeling for you is the same now as it was then, because then⁠—you slighted it. Bertha No, Robert. I did not. Robert Continuing. You did. And I have felt it all these years without knowing it⁠—till now. Even while I lived⁠—the kind of life you know and dislike to think of⁠—the kind of life to which you condemned me. Bertha I? Robert Yes, when you slighted the common simple gift I had to offer you⁠—and took his gift instead. Bertha Looking at him. But you never⁠ ⁠… Robert No. Because you had chosen him. I saw that. I saw it on the first night we met, we three together. Why did you choose him? Bertha Bends her head. Is that not love? Robert Continuing. And every night when we two⁠—he and I⁠—came to that corner to meet you I saw it and felt it. You remember the corner, Bertha? Bertha As before. Yes. Robert And when you and he went away for your walk and I went along the street alone I felt it. And when he spoke to me about you and told me he was going away⁠—then most of all. Bertha Why then most of all? Robert Because it was then that I was guilty of my first treason towards him. Bertha Robert, what are you saying? Your first treason against Dick? Robert Nods. And not my last. He spoke of you and himself. Of how your life would be together⁠—free and all that. Free, yes! He would not even ask you to go with him. Bitterly. He did not. And you went all the same. Bertha I wanted to be with him. You know⁠ ⁠… Raising her head and looking at him. You know how we were then⁠—Dick and I. Robert Unheeding. I advised him to go alone⁠—not to take you with him⁠—to live alone in order to see if what he felt for you was a passing thing which might ruin your happiness and his career. Bertha Well, Robert. It was unkind of you towards me. But I forgive you because you were thinking of his happiness and mine. Robert Bending closer to her. No, Bertha. I was not. And that was my treason. I was thinking of myself⁠—that you might turn from him when he had gone and he from you. Then I would have offered you my gift. You know what it was now. The simple common gift that men offer to women. Not the best perhaps. Best or worst⁠—it would have been yours. Bertha Turning away from him. He did not take your advice. Robert As before. No. And the night you ran away together⁠—O, how happy I was! Bertha Pressing his hands. Keep calm, Robert. I know you liked me always. Why did you not forget me? Robert Smiles bitterly. How happy I felt as I came back along the quays and saw in the distance the boat lit up going down the black river, taking you away from me! In a calmer tone. But why did you choose him? Did you not like me at all? Bertha Yes. I liked you because you were his friend. We often spoke about you. Often and often. Every time you wrote or sent papers or books to Dick. And I like you still, Robert. Looking into his eyes. I never forgot you. Robert Nor I you. I knew I would see you again. I knew it the night you went away⁠—that you would come back. And that was why I wrote and worked to see you again⁠—here. Bertha And here I am. You were right. Robert Slowly. Nine years. Nine times more beautiful! Bertha Smiling. But am I? What do you see in me? Robert Gazing at her. A strange and beautiful lady. Bertha Almost disgusted. O, please don’t call me such a thing! Robert Earnestly. You are more. A young and beautiful queen. Bertha With a sudden laugh. O, Robert! Robert Lowering his voice and bending nearer to her. But do you not know that you are a beautiful human being? Do you not know that you have a beautiful body? Beautiful and young? Bertha Gravely. Some day I will be old. Robert Shakes his head. I cannot imagine it. Tonight you are young and beautiful. Tonight you have come back to me. With passion. Who knows what will be tomorrow? I may never see you again or never see you as I do now. Bertha Would you suffer? Robert Looks round the room, without answering. This room and this hour were made for your coming. When you have