ister alone with me a moment. Perhaps you'll see about your sleigh
being ready to return to town.

GODESBY. I've no objection--if Julia wishes it.

MISS GODESBY. Yes, go on, Howard!

[GODESBY _goes out back of house._

WARDEN. [_Left alone with_ MISS GODESBY, _goes nearer to her._] Look,
here! Will you accept _my_ indorsement? Will _I_ be all right?

MISS GODESBY. [_Incredulously._] Certainly.

WARDEN. Then it's settled?

MISS GODESBY. You don't mean it!

WARDEN. I do.

MISS GODESBY. You'd be willing to lose--[_A revelation comes to her._]
Oh--for _Mrs. Sterling_! I see!

WARDEN. [_Very seriously._] I _wouldn't_. I wouldn't see.

MISS GODESBY. And she's always been blackguarding me for my affairs with
men! And all the time--

WARDEN. [_Interrupts strongly._] Don't say any more, please, _Miss
Godesby_! I only wish your brother had said that much instead of you.

MISS GODESBY. [_Disagreeably._] So you're in love with Blanche Sterling?

WARDEN. No!

MISS GODESBY. Oh, come, don't tell a lie about it; that will only make
it seem worse.

WARDEN. Well, suppose I were in love with her--what of it?

MISS GODESBY. Nothing; only, my dear Warden, that woman--

WARDEN. [_Interrupts._] Wait a minute! You've got me in a corner, but
knowing half the truth, you mustn't _guess_ the whole. She is even more
ignorant of my love for her than you were ten minutes ago! [MISS GODESBY
_smiles and makes a little satirical exclamation._] You don't believe
that, but I'll _make_ you. I'm going to tell _you_ something I've never
even told myself. I'm going to put you to a big test, because I've got
to. Apparently, I can't help myself; but after all, somehow I believe in
the human nature in you, and you've got it in your power to help or hurt
the woman I love--I say those words aloud for the first time--the woman
I love!

[_He has finished his speech in a lowered tone throbbing with controlled
feeling._

MISS GODESBY. [_Incredulously._] You've never told her?

WARDEN. Never; and you show how little you really know her when you ask
that question! She loves her husband.

MISS GODESBY. I'm not so sure about that!

WARDEN. I am, and I _love her_. But surely the silent love of a man,
like mine, is no insult to a good woman--cannot harm her! A love that is
never spoken, not even whispered, can't hurt any one, except, perhaps,
the one who loves. You must acknowledge even _you_ have never heard a
hint; you _showed_ just now your