Kate (C., aside). And I, too, loved him. And he dared to speak of love to me, after having ruined the happiness of this confiding child. He whom I thought so good, so noble, who was my ideal of what a man should be. And how unmoved he was in her presence. (Aloud.) Poor girl (goes to Lizzie, kneels and puts her arm around her), you have my deepest sympathy. Be brave; he is not worth those tears. I will be your friend and comfort you all I can. Here (rising), go in this room; he will be back soon and I do not wish you to have the pain of meeting him. What you have told me shall be sacred. I will see you again soon. (Takes her to R.) Liz. Ah! thank you a thousand times for your goodness. (Exit, R.) Kate. Yes, he is coming back. Will he speak of his love again, trusting to her silence? His love? His noble words but now were decoys to catch the hand of a supposed heiress by pandering to her theories. Ah, heavens! is there no truth in the world? Unhappy, indeed, must the woman be whose whole life is dependent on the truth or falsehood of a man. Oh, woman's heart! who can escape the suffering its tenderness brings? Strong-minded let me be, and deal with him as he deserves! (Enter Dr. Endicott, C.) Dr. E. (coming down R.). I am happy to say your father and I have settled our little affair with mutual satisfaction; and now, Kate (going to her), may I finish the sentence so rudely interrupted? May I dare to ask the one woman in the world for me, to share my life? Kate (turning from him). I should hardly think you _would_ dare, sir. (Goes to L.) Dr. E. Kate, do I merit that strange tone of severity? Kate. Sir, do you think you are worthy of such a woman as you have described? Dr. E. No, Kate, no man is. But I would hope by her aid and the influence of her pure example to make myself more worthy day after day. Kate. Your hypocrisy deceives me no longer, Dr. Endicott. The man I marry I must honor as well as love. I cannot honor you. Farewell. (Points to door, C.) Tableau. Music. Dr. Endicott, R.; Kate, L. ACT II. Scene.--Library in Mr. Grovenor's House. Desk, R., Books, etc. Jennie discovered arranging Books at Desk. Chairs R. and L. Jen. Now I wonder what it all means? Let me see. (Counts on fingers.) Mr. Grovenor is cross all the time, Mrs. Grovenor is frightened all the time, Miss Alice is nervous all the time, Miss Kate is sober all the time, and Mr. Eugene is drunk--I mean jolly--all the time. Dr. Endicott don't come here any more, Eyeglass Doughlass is here all the time, there is a sighing seamstress up-stairs, and Jim--but I know what the matter is with Jim--_he_ is in love with _me_, _that's_ what ails _him_. But what ails everybody else is more than I can tell. (Enter Mr. Grovenor, L. U. E.) Mr. G. (going to desk). That will do, Jennie, that will do.