tion for a moment._ CLERGYMAN _leaves_
JEANNETTE. _She speaks after him, following._

JEANNETTE. This is not _legal_ proof, you say?

CLERGYMAN. It is not sufficient.

JEANNETTE. But it's moral proof. [MARION _turns and goes back to her
place ... motions_ FLETCHER _to follow. He does so but almost
timidly._ CLERGYMAN _turns from_ JEANNETTE.] Listen! So long as he
remains as he is, there's a chance that the world won't always be able
to fling my boy's shame in his face. And I tell you, sir, the agony
she would suffer now is nothing ... _nothing_ to what her life with
him would be. And think what it is to ... [_Her emotion racks her._]
watch your child, your own flesh and blood, day and night, all its
life, terror-stricken ... [_She controls her emotions._] lest you find
some trace of his father in him!

MARION. [_Turns to_ CLERGYMAN.] We are waiting.

CLERGYMAN. But ... [_Interrupted._

MARION. [_Interrupting._] I love him; I am not willing to give him up
for that woman!

CLERGYMAN. But she swears a compact of marriage was made.

MARION. Has she proofs? [FLETCHER _glares at_ JEANNETTE; _his muscles
grow rigid_.

CLERGYMAN. _No._ [FLETCHER _relaxes_.

MARION. Very well,--I have his word against hers,--that is enough.

CLERGYMAN. [_To_ FLETCHER.] But I believe you do not deny the child?

FLETCHER. [_Tentatively._] Yes ... yes, I _do_ deny it.

MARION. [_Quickly._] This man's past, sir, is not yours, nor mine. But
his present does belong to me, and his future shall be mine too, to
_make_, not _hers to mar_.

FLETCHER. [_Impatient._] Come! We've lost enough time, let's finish
this. [CLERGYMAN _goes to his proper place behind the chancel rails_.

JEANNETTE. [_Coming up one of the chancel steps._] You shall not go on
with this marriage.

FLETCHER. [_Half angry._] She has shown what she is by the way she has
chosen to stop it.

JEANNETTE. That's a cowardly lie! And it was only when I saw by the
papers that my letters had been useless that I decided to humiliate
myself in this way. Do you think I would so degrade my womanhood for
the sake of anything on God's earth, but _one_ ... my child? [_To_
MARION.] Do you think I could do anything but loathe _him_!... [_With
a gesture toward_ FLETCHER.

MARION. But I love him.

JEANNETTE. So did I _once_. And now I'd save you if I could from all I
know you'll have to suffer. Once you're his, he'll tire of you....

MARION. [_Interrupting._] You forget one thing ...