Why Marry? Part 46

To separate? What an idea! On the contrary, we wish to be free to keep together! In the old days when they had interests in common marriage used to make man and woman one, but now it puts them apart. Can't you see it all about you? He goes down-town and works; she stays up-town and plays. He belongs to the laboring cla.s.s; she belongs to the leisure cla.s.s. At best, they seldom work at the same or similar trades. Legally it may be a union, but socially it's a msalliance--in the eyes of G.o.d it's often worse.... No wonder that one in eleven ends in divorce. The only way to avoid spiritual separation is to shun legal union like a contagious disease. Modern marriage _is_ divorce. [_She turns to go, defiantly._] I've found my work, I've found my mate, and so has he! What more can any human being ask?

[_The BUTLER appears._

BUTLER

[_to JOHN_]

Doctor Hamilton is outside in a taxicab, sir.

JOHN

Show him here at once!

BUTLER

He says he does not care to come in, sir, unless you are ready to talk to him now.

JOHN

Well, of all the nerve! You bet I'm ready!

[_Starts off. HELEN starts, too._

JUDGE

[_intercepting them calmly_]

Wait a minute--wait a minute. [_To SERVANT._] Ask Doctor Hamilton kindly to wait in the library. [_The BUTLER goes._] Now, we're all a bit overwrought. [_Soothes HELEN, pats her hand, puts arm about her, gradually leads her back._] I still believe in you, Helen, I still believe in him. [_To all._] It's simply that he's so deeply absorbed in his great work for mankind that he doesn't realize what he is asking Helen to do.

HELEN

[_quietly_]

So I told him ... when he asked me to marry him.

ALL

What! He _asked_ you to _marry_ him?

HELEN

Of course! _Implored_ me to marry him. [_She adds, smiling._] So absorbed--not in mankind, but in me--that he "didn't realize what he was asking me to do."

LUCY

[_utterly amazed_]

And you refused him! The man who loves you honorably?

HELEN

[_demurely_]

Of course! You don't suppose I'd take advantage of the poor fellow's weakness. Women often do, I admit--even when not in love, sometimes....

Not because they're depraved but dependent.

JOHN

[_to all_]

And then he proposed this wicked subst.i.tute! Poisoned her innocent mind--the bounder!

HELEN

But he did nothing of the sort.

JOHN

Oh, your own idea, was it?

HELEN

Of course!

JOHN

[_to all_]

And he is willing to take advantage of the poor child's ignorance--the cad! [_To THEODORE._] "Deep religious nature," eh?

THEODORE

I can't believe it of him.