Why Marry? - LightNovelsOnl.com
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I made you come! I made you see!
JOHN
[_advances menacingly_]
By what right are you here in my home? By what right do you take my sister in your arms?
ERNEST
By a right more ancient than man-made law! I have come to the cry of my mate. I'm here to fight for the woman I love! [_Arm about HELEN, defies the world. To all._] My trip to Paris is postponed. One week from to-day gather all your family here, and in your home we'll make our declaration to the world.
JOHN
In my home! Ha! Not if I know it.
JUDGE
[_restraining JOHN_]
Play for time, John--he'll bring her around.
JOHN
[_to ERNEST_]
Do you mean to marry her or not? Speak my language!
[_ERNEST releases HELEN and steps across to JOHN._
ERNEST
_She_ decides that--not you.
[_All turn to HELEN._
HELEN
Never!
JOHN
[_shaking off JUDGE. To HELEN._]
You'll go with this d.a.m.ned fanatic only over my dead body.
HELEN
[_high_]
And that will only cry aloud the thing you wish to hide from the world you fear.
[_Just now JEAN is seen slowly returning from the garden without REX. Her pretty head is bent and, busy with her own sad thoughts, she is startled by the following:_
ERNEST
There are laws to prevent marriage in some cases but none to enforce marriage on women--unless they will it.
JOHN
[_beside himself with rage_]
Enforce! Do you think I'll ever _allow_ a sister of mine to marry a libertine?
JEAN
[_thinks they are discussing her, and is outraged_]
But I'm not going to marry him! My engagement is broken.
[_General consternation. Sobbing, JEAN runs into house._
JOHN
My G.o.d, what next? Lucy, don't let Rex get away! You know what he'll do--and when he sobers up, it may be too late. [_To ERNEST._] As for you, you snake, you get right out of here.
JUDGE
[_in the sudden silence_]
Now you've done it, John.
ERNEST
