tual
Life and a couple of mortgages, and we'll win in the end, and Louise get
hers back and mother too--! [_His arm about his wife._] It's _sure_ in
the end, _it's got_ to be, Louise.

[_There is no response from_ LOUISE.

GEORGIANA. Steven, I have a condition about my money.

STEVEN. [_Crestfallen._] What?

GEORGIANA. It isn't to be used as you think. If I'm to help you, it must
be in my own way.

STEVEN. How do you mean?

GEORGIANA. What's lost is _lost_. I have between five and six hundred
thousand dollars, and we must all live on the income of that. And you
must give your word of honor never to gamble in stocks again.

[SAM _comes back to front of table._

LOUISE. [_To_ STEVEN, _suddenly realizing it again._] You let _all_ my
money go?

GEORGIANA. [_To_ LOUISE.] I will share what I have with you.

STEVEN. [_To_ GEORGIANA.] But you must let me try to get back--

GEORGIANA. [_Interrupting._] It would only be throwing good money after
bad!

COAST. [_Sardonically._] How about Moles and Lizzie?

GEORGIANA. Don't _you_ worry about them! Moles and Lizzie shall have
their money back, of course.

STEVEN. But I can't do it, Georgy. It's losing--why it's like losing a
million to us!

GEORGIANA. Suppose you went on speculating with my money, and it went
the same way as Louise's and her mother's?

COAST. And Lizzie's and Moles?

STEVEN. But it can't--it _can't!_

[STEVEN _sits on the sofa._ GEORGIANA _sits beside_ STEVEN. LOUISE _is
still in the arm-chair Left._

GEORGIANA. O Steve! I've heard that so often. [_A pause._] You were
always a straight boy, Steve, and you always kept your word. Your notion
of honor, it seems to me, in little things hasn't been so strong
lately, as this fever of speculation grew on you, but still you are the
same Steve and you've never lied about your transactions; so I have
faith in you. Now let's settle this once and for all and _my way_!

STEVEN. It's very hard, Georgiana.

LOUISE. We can never all of us live on your income--not as we're used
to.

GEORGIANA. That's true. Come, Steve. Give me your word never to go into
another speculation and let's throw it off for to-day. Dick's coming to
say good-by. Let's give him happy memories of us, at least to take away
with him. [_A moment's pause._] Come, Steve?

STEVEN. [_Low voice._] All right.

GEORGIANA. No more speculating; you'll give me your word--[STEVEN
_rises_, GEORGIANA _rises._ STEVEN _nods his head._]--of honor,