Why Marry? Part 25

How do you know "the right one" hasn't come already?

[_THEODORE catches sight of HELEN. She shakes her head in silent pleading, taps a finger on her lips, and in a panic flees noiselessly across toward the door._

THEODORE

[_suppressing a laugh_]

Then don't let her go by!

[_HELEN stops at the door and makes a face at THEODORE._

ERNEST

[_affecting indifference_]

Oh, I couldn't stop her, even if I wanted to.

THEODORE

[_turning to wink at HELEN_]

How do you know? Did you ever ask her?

ERNEST

To marry me? Oh, no! She hasn't any money.

THEODORE

[_HELEN is dumfounded_]

Money! You wouldn't marry for money!

[_HELEN draws near to hear the answer._

ERNEST

You don't suppose I'd marry a woman who hadn't any? Most selfish thing a poor man can do.

[_HELEN is interested._

THEODORE

Oh, fiddlesticks! You modern young people--

ERNEST

[_interrupts_]

Make her a sort of superior servant in an inferior home--not that girl!

[_HELEN is pleased._

THEODORE

Feministic nonsense! The old-fas.h.i.+oned womanly woman----

ERNEST

Sentimental twaddle! What makes it more "womanly" to do menial work _for_ men than intellectual work with them?

[_HELEN delighted, applauds noiselessly._

THEODORE

All the same, I'll bet you wouldn't let a little thing like that stand in your way if you really cared for a woman enough to marry her.

ERNEST

[_benign and secure_]

But, as it happens, I don't. Nothing could induce me to marry.

[_HELEN raises her chin, her eyes glitter dangerously._

THEODORE

So you are going to run away to Europe like a coward?

ERNEST

[_smiles patronizingly_]

Theodore, you are such an incorrigible idealist! I have nothing to be afraid of--I simply do not care to _marry_!