tion for a moment._ CLERGYMAN _leaves_
JEANNETTE. _She speaks after him, following._
JEANNETTE. This is not _legal_ proof, you say?
CLERGYMAN. It is not sufficient.
JEANNETTE. But it's moral proof. [MARION _turns and goes back to her
place ... motions_ FLETCHER _to follow. He does so but almost
timidly._ CLERGYMAN _turns from_ JEANNETTE.] Listen! So long as he
remains as he is, there's a chance that the world won't always be able
to fling my boy's shame in his face. And I tell you, sir, the agony
she would suffer now is nothing ... _nothing_ to what her life with
him would be. And think what it is to ... [_Her emotion racks her._]
watch your child, your own flesh and blood, day and night, all its
life, terror-stricken ... [_She controls her emotions._] lest you find
some trace of his father in him!
MARION. [_Turns to_ CLERGYMAN.] We are waiting.
CLERGYMAN. But ... [_Interrupted._
MARION. [_Interrupting._] I love him; I am not willing to give him up
for that woman!
CLERGYMAN. But she swears a compact of marriage was made.
MARION. Has she proofs? [FLETCHER _glares at_ JEANNETTE; _his muscles
grow rigid_.
CLERGYMAN. _No._ [FLETCHER _relaxes_.
MARION. Very well,--I have his word against hers,--that is enough.
CLERGYMAN. [_To_ FLETCHER.] But I believe you do not deny the child?
FLETCHER. [_Tentatively._] Yes ... yes, I _do_ deny it.
MARION. [_Quickly._] This man's past, sir, is not yours, nor mine. But
his present does belong to me, and his future shall be mine too, to
_make_, not _hers to mar_.
FLETCHER. [_Impatient._] Come! We've lost enough time, let's finish
this. [CLERGYMAN _goes to his proper place behind the chancel rails_.
JEANNETTE. [_Coming up one of the chancel steps._] You shall not go on
with this marriage.
FLETCHER. [_Half angry._] She has shown what she is by the way she has
chosen to stop it.
JEANNETTE. That's a cowardly lie! And it was only when I saw by the
papers that my letters had been useless that I decided to humiliate
myself in this way. Do you think I would so degrade my womanhood for
the sake of anything on God's earth, but _one_ ... my child? [_To_
MARION.] Do you think I could do anything but loathe _him_!... [_With
a gesture toward_ FLETCHER.
MARION. But I love him.
JEANNETTE. So did I _once_. And now I'd save you if I could from all I
know you'll have to suffer. Once you're his, he'll tire of you....
MARION. [_Interrupting._] You forget one thing ...
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