MRS. RANSOME (_Pleading hard_). You can’t know what this means to us, sir—or you’d pity us, indeed you would. Her father’ll take on somethin’ dreadful when he hears about it. He’ll turn her out of the house, sir, as sure as can be. You know him, sir. You know he’s too good a Christian to let her stay here after she’s disgraced us all. And then, what’s to become of her? She’ll lose her job, and who’ll give her another—without a reference—an’ a baby to support? That’s how they get started on the streets, sir (_Sobs_), an’ you know it as well as I do. TANNER. Yes, I know. I wish I could help you. It’s very distressing—but we all have to do our duty as we see it. But I do pity you, indeed I do. From the bottom of my heart. I’ll do anything I can for you—within reason. MRS. RANSOME (_Almost hysterical, dragging Janet from the side of the body_). Janet, Janet! Ask him yourself. Ask him on your bended knees. Ask him to save us! (_Janet attempts to return to side of the body._) Janet, do you want to ruin us? Can’t you speak to him? Can’t you ask him? (_Mrs. Ransome breaks into sobs._) TANNER. It is as I feared, Mrs. Ransome. Her heart is hardened. JANET (_Rises and turns fiercely on him_). Whose heart’s hardened? TANNER. Come, come. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for you, and your parents, too. JANET. Well, I’ll tell you flat, I don’t want none of your pity. MRS. RANSOME. Janet, don’t speak like that to him. You’re excited. (_To Tanner_). She don’t mean it, sir—she’s all worked up. JANET (_Her excitement increasing, and speaking in loud tones_). All right, mother—I’ll tell him again—I don’t want none of his pity. I c’n get along without it. An’ if you and him think that writin’ a few words in his marriage register—or whatever he calls it—is going to make any difference, well—you’re welcome to. TANNER. My dear girl. Don’t you understand, if it was merely a question of writing a few words, I’d do it in a minute. But it’s the principle of the thing. JANET (_Bitingly_). Huh! Principle of the thing! I heard it all. You preached against it, didn’t yer? It’s a pity you never preached a sermon on how me and him could have gotten married two years ago, instead of waiting till now, when it’s too late. TANNER. Others have to wait. JANET. We did wait. Isn’t three years long enough? D’ye think we was made of stone? How much longer d’ye think we could wait? We waited until we couldn’t hold out no longer. I only wish to God we hadn’t waited at all, instead of wastin’ all them years. MRS. RANSOME (_Shocked_). Janet, you don’t know what you’re sayin’.