The world needs his work, but he needs mine, and we both need each other.
And marriage would only handicap his work, ruin yours, and put you apart. You know that's true. You've seen it happen with others. You have told me so yourself!
Then that settles it! We must not, cannot, shall not marry. We have no right to marry. I agree with all you say--it would not join us together; it would put us asunder.
Give him up? Never! The right to work, the right to love--those rights are inalienable. No, we'll give up marriage but not each other.
We need each other--in our work and in our life--and we're to have each other--until life is ended and our work is done. Now, do you understand?
Are you in your right mind? Think what you're saying.
I have thought all night, John. You have shown me how to say it.
But, but--why, this is utterly unbelievable! Why I'm not even shocked. Do you notice? I'm not even shocked? Because everything you have said, everything you have done--it all proves that you are a good woman.
If I were a bad woman, I'd inveigle him into marriage, John.
Inveigle! Marriage! Are you crazy? ... Oh, this is all one of your highbrow jokes!
John, weren't you serious when you said marriage would destroy him?
Well, even if that were so, which is more important to the world? Which is more important to your "great humanitarian work"?
Ah, very clever! A bluff to gain my consent to marrying him--a trick to get his salary raised.
John, nothing you can do, nothing you can say, will ever gain my consent to marrying him. I've not told you half my reasons.
My God! my own sister! And did you, for one moment, dream that I would consent to that!
Not for one moment. I'm not asking your consent. I'm just telling you.
Ridiculous! If you really meant to run away with this fellow, would you come and tell _me_, your own brother?
Do you suppose I'd _run_ away without telling, even my own brother?
[_looks at her a moment; she returns his gaze_]
Bah!--all pose and poppycock! [_He abruptly touches bell._] I'll soon put a stop to this nonsense. [_Muttering._] Damnedest thing I ever heard of.
John, I understand exactly what I'm doing. You never will. But nothing you can do can stop me now.
We'll see about that. [_The BUTLER appears._] Ask the others to step out here at once; all except Miss Jean and Mr. Baker, I don't want them. Is Doctor Hamilton about?