STEVEN. [_Rises and goes to the mantel._] Yes, I've been speculating since the very day I said I wouldn't. I won a lot at first, and of course I thought I'd get all back; and then, of course, what I did get back was my old cursed luck! GEORGIANA. Oh, Steve! And I believed in you so thoroughly, I never had a doubt! STEVEN. I know it! I know it! I'm rotten all through, Georgy. [_Bursting into tears._] I'm not worth being forgiven--[_He falls on his knees, in a paroxysm of sobs and tears._] I'm _rotten_! Oh--I'm rotten-- [_He sobs uncontrollably._ [GEORGIANA _watches him a little while in silence. Then she goes to him and puts her hand on his shoulder._ GEORGIANA. Steve! STEVEN. [_Sobbing._] Yes! GEORGIANA. I forgive you! STEVEN. No! No! GEORGIANA. And I'll trust you again if I have a chance. STEVEN. [_Looking up._] Georgy, what do you mean? [_Beginning to control his sobs._ GEORGIANA. I mean, though it's been a pretty big blow, my faith in you isn't altogether gone yet. STEVEN. Oh, I can't bear it! I can't bear it! But you don't mean it! No, you can't mean it! How could you? Forgive me? Trust me again? No, no! You couldn't--it's all over! I've thrown away my own money first, then my wife's and her mother's--that ought to have been enough,--but I had to go and break my word of honor to you, and lose every penny of yours! There's no excuse for me, nor reason to forgive. GEORGIANA. [_After a moment, very quietly, with her eyes filling._] There's _love_, Steve! STEVEN. Not for a man like me. I'm not worth it. [_He rises._] Not deserving it! There's only one thing for such as me, and that is to end it all with a bullet. GEORGIANA. Now you're talking wildly! STEVEN. [_In a lowered voice._] No, Georgy, I mean it! It's better for all of you to have me out of the way; I tried to do it to-day--only, _I was afraid_! GEORGIANA. That would be worse than anything you have done yet. That I would never forgive--anything but that! [_She goes to him._ STEVEN. But the shame of my life now, the degradation, the _rot_ of it! [_A moment's pause._ GEORGIANA. [_The idea comes to her._] Steve, I told you I'd trust you again if I had the chance! Here is the first one, and I take it! Promise me you'll never again even think of taking your life. STEVEN. What's the good of my promising? GEORGIANA. If you tell me, I'll believe you. [_A short pause._ [STEVEN, _not looking at her, puts his hand in the pocket where the pistol is, then takes his hand away, still not looking at her._ Look me straight in the face, Steve, and say, "I promise." [_He hesitates only a moment, and then does so._ STEVEN. I promise. [_He turns a little away from her, takes the pistol from his pocket, and gives it to her._ GEORGIANA. [_Bursting into tears._] Oh, Steve! [_She turns away and puts the pistol on the table between the windows._ STEVEN. Forgive me, Georgy, forgive me! This promise I'll keep. Only forgive me for breaking your heart like this!