]
[AUNTIE sinks, weeping, upon the settee. The VICAR goes over to
comfort her. The uplifted hand of MANSON assumes the BISHOP'S sign
of blessing as the curtain slowly falls.]
THE FIFTH ACT
As the curtain rises, the scene and situation remain unchanged.
[There is heard a Ring of the Bell. All three turn their heads,
alert.]
VICAR. If it's my brother . . .
MANSON. Which?
VICAR. I meant--the Bishop of Benares; but . . .
AUNTIE [hand on his arm, apprehensively]. William . . .
MANSON. It wants ten minutes of the time you said you expected
him. [Goes to door: turns.] Only ten minutes.
[He goes out, closing the door softly.]
VICAR. Ten minutes! . . .
AUNTIE. We shall never be able to do it, William! How can we
possibly undo the work of all these years in ten minutes? It wants
a miracle.
VICAR. We must make the attempt, somehow.
AUNTIE. Yes--yes: how? Oh, I have been blind--blind! [She walks
across the room in agitation.] Where has he gone, I wonder? We
don't even know that--where he is!
VICAR [making a movement].
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