The glory and the gladness I see in this woman's eyes a sin? Her trust in me, my worship of her, our new-found belief in a future life, our greater usefulness together in this--bah! don't talk to me about sin! Such women cannot sin--they love.
Oh, you can talk all night, but this is a practical world. How long could you keep your job in the institute? Then how'll you live! Private practice? No respectable home will let you inside the door.
I've seen the inside of respectable homes. I want no more. [_Taking from his pocket a piece of paper._] This morning I came to ask for your sister's hand in marriage. Your manners did not please me. So I cabled over to Metchnikoff. [_Hands cablegram to JOHN._] His answer. Positions await us both at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. That luxurious suite on to-morrow's steamer still waits in my name.
Ernest! Stop! Think! This woman's soul is in your hands.
[_ERNEST seems to hesitate. HELEN crosses to him. JUDGE seizes JOHN, whispers, and shoves him across._
Doctor Hamilton! I apologize!... You're a man of the world. You know what this means--she doesn't. She is in your power--for God's sake go to Paris without her.
[_JOHN tries to lead HELEN away from ERNEST. She shudders at JOHN'S masterful touch and clings to her lover._
And leave her here in _your_ power? Never again! You've forced her out of her work--you'd force her into legalized prostitution, if you could, like her innocent little sister. [_Snatches HELEN away from JOHN._] No, married or not, she sails with me in the morning. That's final.
But you won't start until after the family party?
[_In a sudden silence HELEN and ERNEST walk into the house, leaving the family in despair._
I knew you'd bungle it, I knew it--but there's still a chance, just one more card to play.
Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby, Doctor and Mrs. Grey, and the Misses Grey.
No matter. It's Sunday--many orthodox people ... why, Mr. Baker won't even dine out on Sunday.
[_Enter the persons announced. Greetings._ "How warm it is for September." ... "And how's the baby, Margaret?" _etc._
_JOHN and JUDGE apart are planning excitedly. JEAN and REX come out, and finally HELEN, followed by ERNEST._
[_The SECOND MAN touches button. Japanese lanterns glow, silver shines, and all move toward the tables, a happy, united family._