Have you heard anything?
JAMES. Not a word.
ALICK. Look at her.
DAVID. Maggie [he goes on his knees beside her, pressing her to him
in affectionate anxiety]. It was mad of him to dare.
MAGGIE. It was grand of him.
ALICK [moving about distraught]. Insane ambition.
MAGGIE. Glorious ambition.
DAVID. Maggie, Maggie, my lamb, best be prepared for the worst.
MAGGIE [husky]. I am prepared.
ALICK. Six weary years has she waited for this night.
MAGGIE. Six brave years has John toiled for this night.
JAMES. And you could have had him, Maggie, at the end of five. The
document says five.
MAGGIE. Do you think I grudge not being married to him yet? Was I to
hamper him till the fight was won?
DAVID [with wrinkled brows]. But if it's lost?
[She can't answer.]
ALICK [starting]. What's that?
[The three listen at the door, the shouting dies down.]
DAVID. They're terrible still; what can make them so still?
[JAMES spirits himself away. ALICK and DAVID blanch to hear MAGGIE
speaking softly as if to JOHN.]
MAGGIE. Did you say you had lost, John? Of course you would lose the
first time, dear John. Six years. Very well, we'll begin another six
to-night. You'll win yet. [Fiercely] Never give in, John, never give
in!
[The roar of the multitude breaks out again and comes rolling
nearer.]
DAVID. I think he's coming.
[JAMES is fired into the room like a squeezed onion.
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