You are to stay at home and run the department for me.
HELEN
[_stepping back_]
Don"t you want me with you?
ERNEST
[_stepping forward, with his heart in voice_]
Do I _want_ you! [_Stops._] But I am a man--you are a woman.
HELEN
What of it? Are you one of those small men who care what people say? No!
That"s not your reason! [_She sees that it is not._] What is it? You must tell me.
ERNEST
[_hesitates_]
It"s only for your sake.
HELEN
[_with feeling_]
Think of all I"ve done for _your_ sake. You wouldn"t be going yourself but for me! I was the one to see you needed it, I proposed it to Metchnikoff--I urged him--_made_ him ask you--for _your sake_! And now am I to be left at home like a child because you don"t care to be embarra.s.sed with me?
ERNEST
Oh, please! This is so unfair. But I simply can"t take you now.
HELEN
[_with growing scorn_]
Oh! You are all alike. You pile work upon me until I nearly drop, you play upon my interest, my sympathy--you get all you can out of me--my youth, my strength, my best! And then, just as I, too, have a chance to arrive in my profession, you, of all men, throw me over! I hate men. I hate you!
ERNEST
And I love you!
[_They stare at each other in silence, the moonlight flooding HELEN"S face, the music coming clear._
HELEN
[_in an awed whisper, stepping back slowly_]
I"ve done it! I"ve done it! I _knew_ I"d do it!
ERNEST
No. I did it. Forgive me. I had to do it.
HELEN
Oh, and this spoils everything!
ERNEST
[_comes closer_]
No! It glorifies everything! [_He breaks loose._] I have loved you from the first day you came and looked up at me for orders. I didn"t want you there; I didn"t want any woman there. I tried to tire you out with overwork but couldn"t. I tried to drive you out by rudeness, but you stayed. And that made me love you more. Oh, I love you! I love you! I love you!
HELEN
Don"t; oh, don"t love me!
ERNEST
[_still closer_]
Why, I never knew there could be women like you. I thought women were merely something to be wanted and worshipped, petted and patronized. But now--why, I love everything about you: your wonderful, brave eyes that face the naked facts of life and are not ashamed; those beautiful hands that toiled so long, so well, so close to mine and not afraid, not afraid!
HELEN
You mustn"t! I _am_ afraid now! I made you say it. [_Smiling and crying._] I have always wanted to make you say it. I have always sworn you shouldn"t.
ERNEST
[_pained_]