Is that reverently, soberly, and in the fear of God? No, cynically, selfishly, and in the fear of man. I don't want to be obstinate, I don't like to set myself up as "holier than thou," but, Ernest, unless we begin honestly, we'll end dishonestly. Somehow marriage seems wicked to me.
All the same, you've got to marry me--you've simply _got_ to.
You are mistaken. I do _not_ have to marry _any one_. I can support myself.
You don't believe in "half of that gibberish." Yet you are willing to work the Church for our own worldly advantage! You are willing to prostitute the most sacred thing in life!... If that is not dishonest, what is!
And you are the woman I love and want to marry! In all my life I was never accused of dishonesty before.
You never tried to marry before. No one is honest about marriage.
I never shall try again. I'm going to Paris to-morrow and I'm going alone.
Then do it. Don't threaten it so often--do it.
Helen--for the last time--just for my sake--marry me.
For the last time--no! no! NO!! I won't be a hypocrite even for your sake.
[_She turns away, he starts off, then stops, rushes over to her._
I can't. You know it. Without you I'm nothing.
No, I was a brute. I'm not worthy of you.
Sssh--I can't stand it--I was perfectly horrid to you. And you were doing it all for my sake. [_Laughing and crying._] You dear old thing--I knew it all the time.
Was there ever in the world anything like it!... Well, children, see here. He's willing to lie for your sake. She's willing to die for your sake. Now, why not just split the difference and have a civil ceremony for _our_ sake.
No, they will marry for a better reason. Think of the _sin_ of it! [_To HELEN._] Have you no sense of sin?
If not, think of the humor of it! Have you no sense of humor?
[_still drying eyes and smiling to JUDGE_]
Not a scrap. Neither has Ernest. Have you, dear?
I _hope_ not--judging from those who always say they have.
Helen, look at Ernest--Ernest look at Helen. [_The lovers do so._] Look into each other's very souls!... You know, you _must_ know, that in the eyes of God this thing would be a sin, a heinous sin.
[_The lovers gaze deep into each other's eyes in silence._
[_tremulous from the emotion he has just been through_]