THE EQUINOX
DELHOMME. I would not brush the bloom from off the
lily—and yet——
EUPHEMIA. My God !—Monsieur Delhomme, I am going
to shock you. Oh! Oh!
[She buries her face in her hands. He starts back, sur-
prised at the turn things ave taking, and at the
violence of her emotion and of its expression.
DELHOMME. What is it? Are you ill? Have I
EUPHEMIA. [Steady and straight before him.] 1 am another
man’s—his—his mistress. There!
[He reels, catches a chair and saves himself. Her breast
heaves ; swallowing a sob, she runs out of the room.
DELHOMME [Utterly dazed]. I—I—oh, my God! My
father! My God! I thought her—oh, I dare not say it—I
will not think it. [Ox his knees, clutching at the chair]
My God, what shall I do? She was my life, my hope, my
flower, my star, my sun! What shall I do? Help me!
help me! Who shall console me? [He continues in silent
prayer, sobbing].
[The door opens ; MR. TODD steals into the room on tiptoe,
bends over him and whispers in hisear. The expres-
ston of anguish fails from his face; a calm steals
over him, he smiles in beatitude and his lips move
in vapture. Hevises, shakes tovp by the hand; they
go out together.
[GRANDFATHER wheeled into the room by THOMAS, CHARLEY
walking by him. The servant leaves them.
GRANDFATHER. Bitter cold, Charley, for us old people!
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