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COL. SELBY
I appreciate your devotion, but I have reflected, though you have not; and I cannot accept the sacrifice. I love you too well.
LAURA
You— love me! You mock me! You cast me off!
COL. SELBY
Laura, when you came here six months ago you were an obscure country girl, seemingly you had no future. The world took little note of what you did, whom you loved, or who loved you. Now all that is changed. You are one of the best known women in Washington. Events of the day give you absolute assurance that you will shortly come into possession of great riches. Your parents live—your brothers live—and above all, my Wife lives.
LAURA
And you remind me of this? You—
COL. SELBY
Be calm, Laura, reflect.
LAURA
Reflect! I was simple, innocent and trusting. Day by day, patiently, perseveringly, with infernal art, you wound your toils about me, day by day, hour by hour, until my heart, my soul, myself was yours. Knowing all [this,] the consequences, the awful awakening that must come to me in time, you yet could find it in your nature to do this heartless thing. I thought myself your Wife, when I was only your silly dupe. Once you abandoned me and I tried to forget you and live, then you came again and whispered in my ears, words that are to a betrayed woman as are promises of liberty to hopeless captives that have grown old in dungeons. You said the day was coming and coming soon, when I should hold in honor and in undisputed right the name and place of Wife to you. And now you tell me that your Wife still lives, and the lying hope you raised from the dead must betake itself to the grave again.
COL. SELBY
Your memory is singularly correct. What do you propose to do about it?
LAURA
[(Kneeling.)] Do? Humble myself in the dust at your feet, appeal to the remnant of that manhood that once made you great, good and generous, plead with you as a lost soul pleads for pity. Oh, I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, put forth your hand and save me.
COL. SELBY
Come now, this is fine—really you ought to be on the stage.
LAURA
Don't mock me, George—be merciful.
COL. SELBY
Oh, stay on your knees if you like,
[(LAURA rises.)
] but I may as well end this farce—it has ceased to amuse [me]. My poor country bred girl, you were a trifle to confiding. Pshaw! marry you —that is too good. I am a gentleman born. I marry you—a vulgar upstart, an empty doll of shoddy fashion.
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