COAST. Why, you've got to marry me. You needn't be afraid of what I won't do for you. I love you, you know that. Everything--I've told you that before. You shall have _everything_ on God's earth you want, and Louise and her mother shall live in style as they always have, and Steve have his own money back, with a brother-in-law to help him take care of it! And what's the other side of the picture? Nothing for you or Louise or anybody--and disgrace for Steve into the bargain. Why, you've _got_ to _marry_ me! [GEORGIANA _rises,_ COAST _follows her._] Don't you see? Anyway [_Smiling._] it was only a trick to make you, because, Georgy, I love you so! [_A pause; she stands looking at him._] Well? GEORGIANA. I'm trying to realize--to understand it all. [MOLES _enters Left._ MOLES. Please, miss, Mrs. Carley says your soup is all cold and they're on with the fish. GEORGIANA. Tell Mrs. Carley not to wait for Mr. Carley and me, we're not coming down; but Mr. Coast will join them in a moment. [COAST _looks up surprised._ MOLES. Yes, miss. [_He goes out. A moment's pause._ COAST. What do you mean by that? [_Another pause._ GEORGIANA. [_Slowly._] Not to save myself, not even to save my brother, and from even worse than we have to face, would I marry you. COAST. Don't say that, Georgy! GEORGY. Why, every word you've said, and everything you've done to make me love you, makes me instead--yes--and for what you've done with Steve [_Looks at_ STEVE.], _I do hate_ you. [_Goes to the sofa,_ COAST _follows._ COAST. I only said it because I love you, Georgiana. GEORGIANA. Oh, Sam Coast, you don't know what love is! Love doesn't make beasts of men, it makes men of beasts. It doesn't take all for itself--it sacrifices all for another. Love isn't an enemy that lays traps and makes ambushes,--love is a friend whose heart is a divine magnet! Real love makes an angel of a woman and a hero of a man, but love such as you have--oh, the happiness in this world that's been lost through it! COAST. You don't know me! GEORGIANA. I didn't, but I do! You've dragged down my brother, sacrificed him and my belief in him, almost, for your own selfish end, tried to trap me into marrying you when you know I didn't love you. COAST. But you would-- GEORGIANA. Once perhaps, though I can't imagine it! But not now! No! I'd starve and suffer and die now before I could ever love you. [_A pause;_ COAST _goes to the table and stands half shamefaced a moment, then he pulls himself up and turns._ COAST. Well, face the music for a while, and then see! GEORGIANA. They're waiting for you at dinner; please join them and tell them what you like. COAST. I'll tell them nothing. I'll let you and Steve think things over a little. STEVEN. [_Rises, and goes to meet_ COAST.] You will have something to settle with me outside of money matters! COAST. [_With a jeer._] Please yourself. [_He goes out._