. Your father?

FLETCHER. All that I said is true, and more!

MRS. WOLTON. What is true? What did he say? [_A pause._ FLETCHER
_remains doggedly silent._

MARION. Ah! You daren't repeat it before my mother! [FLETCHER
_sneers_.] You know she would prove the lie in your face! Did you
think you would frighten me into marrying you! Do you think a man with
a reputation like yours, could injure the reputation of a man like my
father, loved by everyone!

FLETCHER. And who cheated those very people who loved him--that's only
what _I_ did. He was no better than I-- [MRS. WOLTON _makes a movement
and an effort to interrupt him_.

MARION. [_To_ MRS. WOLTON.] Let him finish, mother. [_Holding her
back._

FLETCHER. He left you both beggars, and robbed his own sister besides.

MRS. WOLTON. _It is not true!_

MARION. [_Not believing him._] How is it, then, that we have
everything, everything we could wish for! How is it we have lived in
our old home, lived our old life, if we were beggars!

FLETCHER. How?--thanks to _my_ money, _I've_ paid for it all! [MARION
_opens her lips to speak, but cannot; a short pause_.

MRS. WOLTON. You! [MARION _stops her with her hand on her arm._ MARION
_and_ MRS. WOLTON _cross to sofa._

FLETCHER. [_Quietly._] It is true! This is _my_ house you're in! [_A
pause--the two women are stunned, speechless, unable to comprehend and
believe, yet unable to contradict. Re-enter_ DAWSON.

FLETCHER. Ah! [_Relieved, as_ DAWSON _is his proof._ DAWSON, _looking
from one person to the other, realizes the situation. He looks a
little frightened at the two women. An awkward moment's pause._]
Question _him_ if you doubt my word.

MARION. My father! Is what he says true? [_The women are afraid to
question._

DAWSON. [_To_ FLETCHER.] Have you told them?

FLETCHER. The truth? _Yes!_

DAWSON. [_To_ FLETCHER.] Your reason?

FLETCHER. I didn't come here to do it; she made me angry. She drove me
to it.

MARION. [_In a hard, tuneless voice._] He says my father was not
honest--is that _true_?

DAWSON. [_Answers with difficulty._] Yes. [_A sob comes into_ MARION'S
_throat and she almost breaks down, but she at once controls herself._

MARION. He says _his_ money has been supporting us since--since--

DAWSON. [_To_ FLETCHER.] A _manly_ way to put it!

FLETCHER. [_Crosses left. Bursting out again._] I wanted you to feel
an obligation to me--I don't want to lose you.--You loved me
yesterday; if you were on