EVERARD. (_more and more bewildered, sits up_ C. _on her_ R.) Margaret!
MARGARET. And I--I admired him, of course. But I confess that at first--only then, when Mr. Mollentrave told me of all his diseases--Everard! His heart isn't weak?
MARGARET. (_raising her hands pathetically to Heaven_) Oh!!! And yet how great his love must be, for him to have stooped to this!
EVERARD. (_scornfully_) His love! He has called you an idiot! You!
MARGARET. (_sobbing again_) Yes--a wretched--little--idiot! And what had I done to deserve it! (EVERARD _sits_ C.) Oh, leave me, leave me! Go to your Lady Claude!
EVERARD. (_trembling with excitement_) You can't marry him now!
MARGARET. Will he let me escape, do you think? All this week, the hungry love in his eyes!
MARGARET. I loved what I _thought_ was him. And I--I am faithful--_I_ do not change--_I_ don't says things to one woman one week and then make love to another! Why do you stay here, Everard? Your bride is waiting!
EVERARD. (_desperately_) Do you think _I_ want to marry Lady Claude?
MARGARET. (_scornfully_) Would you have proposed to her, if you didn't?
EVERARD. I proposed out of pique, because you--
EVERARD. I read Mr. Mollentrave's wicked book, and believed it! Oh, Margaret, Margaret, can you think that any other woman in the world--
EVERARD. I always have loved you--always--always! But when I found that you--
MARGARET. I see it all! You proposed to Lady Claude--for my sake!
MARGARET. And you _don't_ love her? Then I have ruined your life!
MARGARET. It is--it is! Can we break both their hearts? Oh, Everard--we must be noble!
EVERARD. Poor Lady Claude! I'm afraid I've been very cruel!
MARGARET. And your uncle--think of your uncle! Imagine if he--suspected! The blow to him! No, no, we mustn't, we can't. We must make the sacrifice, Everard! We must do what is right!
EVERARD. But tell me, at least! You _do_ love me?
MARGARET. Oh, Everard, I always have loved you--but I didn't know!
EVERARD. (_desperately_) I don't want to marry Lady Claude!
MARGARET. Nor I your uncle! But we must! They love us, the poor old things!
(_They fall into each other's arms._ MOLLENTRAVE _comes in briskly_ L. U. E. _and stares, in utter amazement_)
MOLLEN. (_triumphantly_) Ah! The liberation of two gases, that meet, and explode!