Ruth (_dryly_). My mother's. You say you're where you were when we begun. Perhaps you are. But I am not. It's no new thing for you to go your walks with a weaver's lass. But it's new for me to be the lass. Do you think there are no wagging tongues about? Guy. It's news to me that you give heed to gossip. You're not going to talk about your reputation, are you? Ruth. No. I shan't _talk_ about it, Guy. Guy (_scornfully_). I thought you made of finer stuff. Ruth. Than those others you have walked with? Guy (_sharply_). What's that to do with you? Ruth. Nothing, but that I find it good to know about them. Guy. This is strange talk for a woman. Ruth (_dryly_). Folk always say I should have been a man. Guy (_ardently_). Thank God, you're not. It's better to rule a man than be one, Ruth. Ruth. Do I rule you? Guy. You've made a slave of me. I'm at your feet. Ruth. You told the others that. Guy. Had they your beauty? Ruth. Then I've the greater cause to guard it. Guy. You haven't talked like this outside. Ruth. I'm inside now. This is my father's cottage. Guy. You've been like this to-night. Perverse. As if you didn't know what passion meant. As if you laughed at me for being on fire for you. You've come half-way to meet me till to-night. You've answered love with love. You've been a fine free glory of a woman that it was heaven to be near and hell to be away from, that knew to be in love was to be upraised above the talk of fools and what a pair of lovers do is right because they do it for their love. Ruth (_absently_). Yes. What lovers do is right even if it's to renounce. Guy. Renounce? What are you talking about? Ruth. I was thinking of a pair of lovers that I know. Guy (_roughly_). Then stop thinking of them. Think of us. Ruth. I'm thinking of myself. Guy. You're in a curious mood to-night. Ruth. To-night I'm being prudent. Guy (_scornfully_). Prudent! Love isn't prudent. Prudence was made for cowards, not for lovers. Ruth, you're not a coward. Ruth (_absently_). I think that what I'm doing now is the bravest thing I ever did. (_At him._) What do you make of it all? Guy (_trying to be light_). I think you're a mischievous tease, and---- Ruth. I'm quite in earnest. I was in earnest when I let you talk to me of love and still in earnest when I told you I could walk with you no more. Guy. Ruth! You didn't mean it? Ruth. I meant it all. Did you? Guy (_surprised_). Did I? Ruth. About your love. Guy. Why should you doubt me, Ruth? Ruth. I'll tell you. Because in all your talk of love, you have used a lot of words, but there is one word that you haven't spoken yet, and that I'd like to hear before I go my walks with you again. Guy. What word? Ruth. Marriage. Guy (_staggered, then recovering_). Marriage! Well, isn't it early days for that? Ruth. With some men and some women it would be over early. When you're the man and I the woman, it isn't early. Guy. Marriage! There's a directness about you.