ROBERT. (_swallowing hard, looks quickly from one to the other of them--then begins determinedly_) Yes, there _is_ something--something I must tell you--all of you. (_As he begins to talk_ ANDREW _enters quietly from the rear, closing the door behind him, and setting the lighted lantern on the floor. He remains standing by the door, his arms folded, listening to_ ROBERT _with a repressed expression of pain on his face_. ROBERT _is so much taken up with what he is going to say that he does not notice_ ANDREW’S _presence_.) Something I discovered only this evening--very beautiful and wonderful--something I did not take into consideration previously because I hadn’t dared to hope that such happiness could ever come to me. (_Appealingly_) You must all remember that fact, won’t you? MAYO. (_frowning_) Let’s get to the point, son. ROBERT. (_with a trace of defiance_) Well, the point is this, Pa: I’m not going--I mean--I can’t go tomorrow with Uncle Dick--or at any future time, either. MRS. MAYO. (_with a sharp sigh of joyful relief_) Oh, Robbie, I’m so glad! MAYO. (_astounded_) You ain’t serious, be you, Robert? (_Severely_) Seems to me it’s a pretty late hour in the day for you to be upsettin’ all your plans so sudden! ROBERT. I asked you to remember that until this evening I didn’t know myself. I had never dared to dream---- MAYO. (_irritably_) What is this foolishness you’re talkin’ of? ROBERT. (_flushing_) Ruth told me this evening that--she loved me. It was after I’d confessed I loved her. I told her I hadn’t been conscious of my love until after the trip had been arranged, and I realized it would mean--leaving her. That was the truth. I _didn’t_ know until then. (_As if justifying himself to the others_) I hadn’t intended telling her anything but--suddenly--I felt I must. I didn’t think it would matter, because I was going away. And I thought she loved--someone else. (_Slowly--his eyes shining_) And then she cried and said it was I she’d loved all the time, but I hadn’t seen it. MRS. MAYO. (_rushes over and throws her arms about him_) I knew it! I was just telling your father when you came in--and, Oh, Robbie, I’m so happy you’re not going! ROBERT. (_kissing her_) I knew you’d be glad, Ma. MAYO. (_bewilderedly_) Well, I’ll be damned! You do beat all for gettin’ folks’ minds all tangled up, Robert. And Ruth too! Whatever got into her of a sudden? Why, I was thinkin’---- MRS. MAYO. (_hurriedly--in a tone of warning_) Never mind what you were thinking, James. It wouldn’t be any use telling us that now. (_Meaningly_) And what you were hoping for turns out just the same almost, doesn’t it?