Ruth (_simply_). Yes, there is. Guy. I'm taken by surprise, but---- Ruth (_quietly_). Are you? Guy. I've been too busy simply loving you to think of marriage. (_Quickly._) Yes, Ruth, of course we're going to be married. It would be monstrous in me ever to have intended anything else. But--er--you know, there's my father. We shall have to keep the marriage secret. Just the clergyman and no witnesses to make quite sure of secrecy. Ruth (_moving to door as if leaving him and opening it_). Good-bye, Mr. Barlow. Guy (_staring at her_). Ruth! Ruth. Good-bye. Yes. Look at me well. It's your last look at close quarters. Guy (_by her_). No, by Heaven, it's not. Ruth (_still holding the door open_). You've told me much about my beauty. You hold my beauty cheap. Guy. Your beauty is the richest, finest thing in all the world. Ruth. A secret marriage! Guy. What's changed you, Ruth? You've shown yourself to me a soft and yielding woman. To-night, you're hard, suspicious. Ruth (_closing door_). To-night, I mean to strike a bargain with you. Guy. Lovers don't talk of bargains. Ruth. There's always time to talk of love. To-night, we'll talk of marriage, if you please. Guy. You mean to be wilful. Ruth. I mean that if you want me there's a price to pay, and a secret marriage by a puppet priest with no witnesses is too low a price for me. Guy (_blustering_). You thought that! Ruth (_calmly_). Wasn't I right? How badly do you want me, Mr. Guy Barlow? You see me, and you know the price. Guy (_quite shocked_). You didn't talk this way outside. You've made it all so ugly. You've taken all romance away. Ruth. Romance is safe for men. It's dangerous for women. You tell me I was soft and yielding. What if I'd been too soft, and yielded further than I should? You'd still have life, and life would still be beautiful for you and you'd be looking for another woman with a pretty face to make love beautifully with you. But I'd be dead. I should have killed myself and you'd forget me in a little while. Guy (_genuinely moved_). Ruth, stop! I'm not a black-guard. Ruth. I'm hoping not, if I'm to be your wife. Guy. I never meant you harm. I simply didn't think. Ruth. You thought fast enough of a secret marriage. You remembered to be prudent, and prudence, as I think you said, is made for cowards, not for lovers. Are you a coward, Mr. Guy? Guy. I'm a lover, Ruth. Will you be my wife? Ruth (_with slight shudder_). Yes. Guy (_holding her_). I've got you now. Ruth. Yes. For better or for worse, you've got me now. Guy. For better than the best. I never knew till I met you what love could do to a man. Ruth, you won't remember what you fancied that I thought to-night? You won't have that against me? It really wasn't so. Ruth. I have only room for one thought now. I remember that you're going to marry me. Guy (_lightly_). In a precious few days, you'll remember that I have married you. I'm not cut out for waiting. Ruth. I shall not keep you waiting.