[_All stop, turn, exchange glances._
JUDGE
[_apart_]
Ah! a broad-minded chap.
JOHN
[_with a wink at JUDGE_]
Ah! so you think you"d like to marry my sister after all?
ERNEST
Oh, you"re an a.s.s! What have I been doing for the past twenty-four hours? Begging her to marry me. What have you been doing? Preventing it.
Why did I postpone sailing for a week? Why did I insist upon the family party? [_Comes nearer to JOHN._] You"re an idiot.
JUDGE
[_pinching JOHN_]
Stand for it, John. You"ve got to stand for it. Tell him you love him like a brother ... in-law.
JOHN
[_controls himself_]
Well, I ... I--you have my consent, Doctor Hamilton, I"m sure.
ERNEST
_Your_ consent! What"s that got to do with it? [_They all turn toward HELEN. ERNEST steps between them._] Now wait!... This morning you tried bullying. Did it work? This afternoon bluffing. Think _that_ will work?
[_Hand on HELEN"S shoulder._] You can"t frighten her into marriage. I"ve tried that myself. We"ve got to appeal to some higher motive than self-interest or superst.i.tion with _this_ woman, racial motives, unselfish motives. [_With force._] But don"t talk to me about her being "immoral." I won"t stand for it. If you want her to marry, prove the morality of marriage.
THEODORE
The "morality of marriage"! What next?
ERNEST
[_to THEODORE_]
That"s what I said--the morality of _marriage_! This woman is not on trial before you. Marriage is on trial before her, and thus far I"m bound to say you"ve not made out a good case for it. But simply _justify_ her marrying me, and--I give you my word--you can perform the ceremony this very evening. No license is required in this State, you know.
[_This creates a sensation._
JUDGE
Now, what could be fairer than that! [_To HELEN._] Do you agree to this?
HELEN
[_she nods_]
We agree in everything.
JUDGE
_Both_ broad-minded!
HELEN
[_quietly_]
I never said I did not believe in a legal wedding--[_others surprised_]
for those who can afford the luxury of children.... But for those who have to take it out in working for other people"s children all their lives--a ceremony seems like a subterfuge. Without children I don"t see how any marriage is ever consummated--socially.
THEODORE
Ah, but this relationship--it"s a sacred thing in itself.
HELEN
[_sincerely_]
I know it. I want to do right, Theodore, please believe that I do! But the kind of marriage preached by the Church and practised by the world--does that cherish the real sacredness of this relationship? Of course, I can only judge from appearances, but so often marriage seems to destroy the sacredness--yes, and also the usefulness--of this relationship!
ERNEST
But, my dear girl----