ANN. [in low siren tones] He asked me who would I have as my guardian before he made that will. I chose you! TANNER. The will is yours then! The trap was laid from the beginning. ANN. [concentrating all her magic] From the beginning--from our childhood--for both of us--by the Life Force. TANNER. I will not marry you. I will not marry you. ANN. Oh, you will, you will. TANNER. I tell you, no, no, no. ANN. I tell you, yes, yes, yes. TANNER. NO. ANN. [coaxing--imploring--almost exhausted] Yes. Before it is too late for repentance. Yes. TANNER. [struck by the echo from the past] When did all this happen to me before? Are we two dreaming? ANN. [suddenly losing her courage, with an anguish that she does not conceal] No. We are awake; and you have said no: that is all. TANNER. [brutally] Well? ANN. Well, I made a mistake: you do not love me. TANNER. [seizing her in his arms] It is false: I love you. The Life Force enchants me: I have the whole world in my arms when I clasp you. But I am fighting for my freedom, for my honor, for myself, one and indivisible. ANN. Your happiness will be worth them all. TANNER. You would sell freedom and honor and self for happiness? ANN. It will not be all happiness for me. Perhaps death. TANNER. [groaning] Oh, that clutch holds and hurts. What have you grasped in me? Is there a father's heart as well as a mother's? ANN. Take care, Jack: if anyone comes while we are like this, you will have to marry me. TANNER. If we two stood now on the edge of a precipice, I would hold you tight and jump. ANN. [panting, failing more and more under the strain] Jack: let me go. I have dared so frightfully--it is lasting longer than I thought. Let me go: I can't bear it. TANNER. Nor I. Let it kill us. ANN. Yes: I don't care. I am at the end of my forces. I don't care. I think I am going to faint. At this moment Violet and Octavius come from the villa with Mrs Whitefield, who is wrapped up for driving. Simultaneously Malone and Ramsden, followed by Mendoza and Straker, come in through the little gate in the paling. Tanner shamefacedly releases Ann, who raises her hand giddily to her forehead. MALONE. Take care. Something's the matter with the lady. RAMSDEN. What does this mean? VIOLET. [running between Ann and Tanner] Are you ill? ANN. [reeling, with a supreme effort] I have promised to marry Jack. [She swoons. Violet kneels by her and chafes her hand. Tanner runs round to her other hand, and tries to lift her bead. Octavius goes to Violet's assistance, but does not know what to do. Mrs Whitefield hurries back into the villa. Octavius, Malone and Ramsden run to Ann and crowd round her, stooping to assist. Straker coolly comes to Ann's feet, and Mendoza to her head, both upright and self-possessed].