HELENA. It’s so unnatural. One doesn’t know whether to be disgusted or to hate them, or perhaps-- DOMIN. To pity them. (_Smiles._) HELENA. That’s more like it. What did you want to ask _me_? DOMIN. I should like to ask you, Miss Helena, if you will marry me. HELENA. What? (_Rises._) DOMIN. Will you be my wife? (_Rises._) HELENA. No. The idea! DOMIN. (_To her, looking at his watch_) Another three minutes. If you don’t marry me you’ll have to marry one of the other five. HELENA. But why should I? DOMIN. Because they’re _all_ going to ask you in turn. HELENA. (_Crossing him to L.C._) How could they dare do such a thing? DOMIN. I’m very sorry, Miss Glory. It seems they’ve fallen in love with you. HELENA. Please don’t let them. I’ll--I’ll go away at once. (_Starts R. He stops her, his arms up._) DOMIN. Helena-- (_She backs away to desk. He follows_) You wouldn’t be so cruel as to refuse us. HELENA. But, but--I can’t marry all six. DOMIN. No, but one anyhow. If you don’t want _me_, marry Fabry. HELENA. I won’t. DOMIN. Ah! Doctor Gall? HELENA. I don’t want any of you. DOMIN. Another two minutes. (_Pleading. Looking at watch._) HELENA. I think you’d marry any woman who came here. DOMIN. _Plenty_ of them have come, Helena. HELENA. (_Laughing_) Young? DOMIN. Yes. HELENA. Why didn’t you marry one of _them_? DOMIN. Because I didn’t lose my head. Until today--then as soon as you lifted your veil-- (_HELENA turns her head away._) Another minute. (_WARN Curtain._) HELENA. But I don’t want you, I tell you. DOMIN. (_Laying both hands on her shoulder_) One more minute! Now you either have to look me straight in the eye and say “no” violently, and then I leave you alone--or-- (_HELENA looks at him. He takes hands away. She takes his hand again._) HELENA. (_Turning her head away_) You’re mad. DOMIN. A man _has_ to be a bit mad, Helena. That’s the best thing about him. (_He draws her to him._) HELENA. (_Not meaning it_) You are--you are-- DOMIN. Well? HELENA. Don’t, you’re hurting me! DOMIN. The last chance, Helena. Now or never-- HELENA. But--but-- (_He embraces her; kisses her. She embraces him. KNOCKING at R. door._) DOMIN. (_Releasing her_) Come in. (_She lays her head on his shoulder._) (_Enter BUSMAN, GALL and HALLEMEIER in kitchen aprons, FABRY with a bouquet and ALQUIST with a napkin under his arm._) DOMIN. Have you finished your job? BUSMAN. Yes. DOMIN. So have we. (_He embraces her. The MEN rush around them and offer congratulations._) THE CURTAIN FALLS QUICKLY ACT TWO