STONOR (_with immense relief_). You absurd, ridiculous child! Then all this is just your own unaided invention. Well--I could thank God! (_Falls into the nearest chair and passes his handkerchief over his face._) JEAN (_perplexed, uneasy_). For what are you thanking God? STONOR (_trying to think out his plan of action_). Suppose--(I'm not going to risk it)--but suppose--(_He looks up and at the sight of_ JEAN'S _face a new tenderness comes into his own. He rises suddenly._) Whether I deserve to suffer or not--it's quite certain _you_ don't. Don't cry, dear one. It never was the real thing. I had to wait till I knew you before I understood. JEAN (_lifts her eyes brimming_). Oh, is that true? (_Checks her movement towards him._) Loving you has made things clear to me I didn't dream of before. If I could think that because of me you were able to do this---- STONOR (_seizes her by the shoulders and says hoarsely_). Look here! Do you seriously ask me to give up the girl I love--to go and offer to marry a woman that even to think of---- JEAN. You cared for her once. You'll care about her again. She is beautiful and brilliant--everything. I've heard she could win any man she set herself to---- STONOR (_pushing_ JEAN _from him_). She's bewitched you! JEAN. Geoffrey, Geoffrey, you aren't going away like that. This isn't _the end_! STONOR (_darkly--hesitating_). I suppose even if she refused me, you'd---- JEAN. She won't refuse you. STONOR. She did once. JEAN. She didn't refuse to _marry_ you---- (JEAN _is going to the door_ L.) STONOR (_catches her by the arm_). Wait!--a---- (_Hunting for some means of gaining time._) Lady John is waiting all this while for the car to go back with a message. JEAN. _That's_ not a matter of life and death---- STONOR. All the same--I'll go down and give the order. JEAN (_stopping quite still on a sudden_). Very well. (_Sits_ C.) You'll come back if you're the man I pray you are. (_Breaks into a flood of silent tears, her elbows on the table_ (C.) _her face in her hands._) STONOR (_returns, bends over her, about to take her in his arms_). Dearest of all the world---- (_Door_ L. _opens softly and_ VIDA LEVERING _appears. She is arrested at sight of_ STONOR, _and is in the act of drawing back when, upon the slight noise_, STONOR _looks round. His face darkens, he stands staring at her and then with a look of speechless anger goes silently out_ C. JEAN, _hearing him shut the door, drops her head on the table with a sob._ VIDA LEVERING _crosses slowly to her and stands a moment silent at the girl's side._) MISS L. What is the matter? JEAN (_lifting her head and drying her eyes_). I--I've been seeing Geoffrey. MISS L. (_with an attempt at lightness_). Is this the effect seeing Geoffrey has? JEAN. You see, I know now (_as_ MISS LEVERING _looks quite uncomprehending_)--how he (_drops her eyes_)--how he spoiled some one else's life.