ELIZABETH. I don't think that there's anything to forgive. ARNOLD. It wasn't till to-day when you talked of leaving me that I realised how desperately in love with you I was. ELIZABETH. After three years? ARNOLD. I'm so proud of you. I admire you so much. When I see you at a party, so fresh and lovely, and everybody wondering at you, I have a sort of little thrill because you're mine, and afterwards I shall take you home. ELIZABETH. Oh, Arnold, you're exaggerating. ARNOLD. I can't imagine this house without you. Life seems on a sudden all empty and meaningless. Oh, Elizabeth, don't you love me at all? ELIZABETH. It's much better to be honest. No. ARNOLD. Doesn't my love mean anything to you? ELIZABETH. I'm very grateful to you. I'm sorry to cause you pain. What would be the good of my staying with you when I should be wretched all the time? ARNOLD. Do you love that man as much as all that? Does my unhappiness mean nothing to you? ELIZABETH. Of course it does. It breaks my heart. You see, I never knew I meant so much to you. I'm so touched. And I'm so sorry, Arnold, really sorry. But I can't help myself. ARNOLD. Poor child, it's cruel of me to torture you. ELIZABETH. Oh, Arnold, believe me, I have tried to make the best of it. I've tried to love you, but I can't. After all, one either loves or one doesn't. Trying is no help. And now I'm at the end of my tether. I can't help the consequences--I must do what my whole self yearns for. ARNOLD. My poor child, I'm so afraid you'll be unhappy. I'm so afraid you'll regret. ELIZABETH. You must leave me to my fate. I hope you'll forget me and all the unhappiness I've caused you. ARNOLD. [_There is a pause. ARNOLD walks up and down the room reflectively. He stops and faces her._] If you love this man and want to go to him I'll do nothing to prevent you. My only wish is to do what is best for you. ELIZABETH. Arnold, that's awfully kind of you. If I'm treating you badly at least I want you to know that I'm grateful for all your kindness to me. ARNOLD. But there's one favour I should like you to do me. Will you? ELIZABETH. Oh, Arnold, of course I'll do anything I can. ARNOLD. Teddie hasn't very much money. You've been used to a certain amount of luxury, and I can't bear to think that you should do without anything you've had. It would kill me to think that you were suffering any hardship or privation. ELIZABETH. Oh, but Teddie can earn enough for our needs. After all, we don't want much money. ARNOLD. I'm afraid my mother's life hasn't been very easy, but it's obvious that the only thing that's made it possible is that Porteous was rich. I want you to let me make you an allowance of two thousand a year. ELIZABETH. Oh, no, I couldn't think of it. It's absurd. ARNOLD. I beg you to accept it. You don't know what a difference it will make. ELIZABETH. It's awfully kind of you, Arnold. It humiliates me to speak about it. Nothing would induce me to take a penny from you.