STONOR (_angrily_). Who else? MISS L. The New Spirit that's abroad. (STONOR _turns away with an exclamation and begins to pace, sentinel-like, up and down before_ JEAN'S _door._) MISS L. How else should that inexperienced girl have felt the new loyalty and responded as she did? STONOR (_under his breath_). "New" indeed--however little loyal. MISS L. Loyal above all. But no newer than electricity was when it first lit up the world. It had been there since the world began--waiting to do away with the dark. _So has the thing you're fighting._ STONOR (_his voice held down to its lowest register_). The thing I'm fighting is nothing more than one person's hold on a highly sensitive imagination. I consented to this interview with the hope---- (_A gesture of impotence._) It only remains for me to show her your true motive is revenge. MISS L. Once say that to her and you are lost! (STONOR _motionless; his look is the look of a man who sees happiness slipping away._) MISS L. I know what it is that men fear. It even seems as if it must be through fear that your enlightenment will come. That is why I see a value in Jean Dunbarton far beyond her fortune. (STONOR _lifts his eyes dully and fixes them on_ VIDA'S _face._) MISS L. More than any girl I know--if I keep her from you--that gentle, inflexible creature could rouse in men the old half-superstitious fear---- STONOR. "Fear?" I believe you are mad. MISS L. "Mad." "Unsexed." These are the words to-day. In the Middle Ages men cried out "Witch!" and burnt her--the woman who served no man's bed or board. STONOR. You want to make that poor child believe---- MISS L. She sees for herself we've come to a place where we find there's a value in women apart from the value men see in them. You teach us not to look to you for some of the things we need most. If women must be freed by women, we have need of such as--(_her eyes go to_ JEAN'S _door_)--who knows? She may be the new Joan of Arc. STONOR (_aghast_). That _she_ should be the sacrifice! MISS L. You have taught us to look very calmly on the sacrifice of women. Men tell us in every tongue it's "a necessary evil." (STONOR _stands rooted, staring at the ground._) MISS L. One girl's happiness--against a thing nobler than happiness for thousands--who can hesitate?--_Not Jean._ STONOR. Good God! Can't you see that this crazed campaign you'd start her on--even if it's successful, it can only be so through the help of men? What excuse shall you make your own soul for not going straight to the goal? MISS L. You think we wouldn't be glad to go straight to the goal? STONOR. I do. I see you'd much rather punish me and see her revel in a morbid self-sacrifice.