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COL. SELBY
Laura, these reproaches are as useless as they are distressing. I confess my crime, now I plead with you to listen to reason. You can be a child no longer, be a woman, a woman of the world.
LAURA
A woman of the world?
COL. SELBY
Listen Laura, I have been loveless all my life. In the gushing weakness of youth, I listened to the beseechings of my father and saved him from bankruptcy by marrying a girl who was poor in spirit, poor in mind, poor in affection, poor in health, poor in everything but money. My fate has indeed been a most miserable one, [and hers no less], for our detestation is mutual. I found you, a beautiful young girl, and I was entranced, chained, helpless. I could not turn away. I could not resist. O think Laura, how the age long famine in my heart must have welcomed the abundance of your love. Laura, if I had been single, you know , your own heart tells you, I would have married you! But being married, I—I deceived you. You thought you were my wife, while in truth you were not. Was the fault yours? Were you less pure because I was vile?
LAURA
Oh, why recall these dreadful memories!
COL. SELBY
Simply to show you Darling, that you have not forfeited you honor. You are sinless. I am the sinner. Society would condemn you if it knew, but society need not know.
LAURA
Alas, our world is so small.
COL. SELBY
There is a larger world than this you [must go to]. Senator Dilworthy is my friend. You will be invited to Washington. We shall meet there, shall it be as friends?
LAURA
As friends?
COL. SELBY
Remember Laura, I have told you that if I had been unmarried when we met, I would have married you.
(With a meaning look.)
To those who can wait—there is hope.
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