Why Marry? Part 52

I made you come! I made you see!

JOHN

[_advances menacingly_]

By what right are you here in my home? By what right do you take my sister in your arms?

ERNEST

By a right more ancient than man-made law! I have come to the cry of my mate. I'm here to fight for the woman I love! [_Arm about HELEN, defies the world. To all._] My trip to Paris is postponed. One week from to-day gather all your family here, and in your home we'll make our declaration to the world.

JOHN

In my home! Ha! Not if I know it.

JUDGE

[_restraining JOHN_]

Play for time, John--he'll bring her around.

JOHN

[_to ERNEST_]

Do you mean to marry her or not? Speak my language!

[_ERNEST releases HELEN and steps across to JOHN._

ERNEST

_She_ decides that--not you.

[_All turn to HELEN._

HELEN

Never!

JOHN

[_shaking off JUDGE. To HELEN._]

You'll go with this d.a.m.ned fanatic only over my dead body.

HELEN

[_high_]

And that will only cry aloud the thing you wish to hide from the world you fear.

[_Just now JEAN is seen slowly returning from the garden without REX. Her pretty head is bent and, busy with her own sad thoughts, she is startled by the following:_

ERNEST

There are laws to prevent marriage in some cases but none to enforce marriage on women--unless they will it.

JOHN

[_beside himself with rage_]

Enforce! Do you think I'll ever _allow_ a sister of mine to marry a libertine?

JEAN

[_thinks they are discussing her, and is outraged_]

But I'm not going to marry him! My engagement is broken.

[_General consternation. Sobbing, JEAN runs into house._

JOHN

My G.o.d, what next? Lucy, don't let Rex get away! You know what he'll do--and when he sobers up, it may be too late. [_To ERNEST._] As for you, you snake, you get right out of here.

JUDGE

[_in the sudden silence_]

Now you've done it, John.

ERNEST