be sacrificed for Tommy's sake or anybody's sake.

(_Chalmers shrugs his shoulders and smiles in ridicule._)

{Knox}

Surely, Margaret, there is a way out for us. Give up the letters.
What are they?--only scraps of paper. Why match them against
happiness--our happiness?

{Margaret}

But as you told me yourself, those scraps of paper represent the
happiness of millions of lives. It is not our happiness that is
matched against some scraps of paper. It is our happiness against
millions of lives--like ours. All these millions have hearts, and
loves, and desires, just like ours.

{Knox}

But it is a great social and cosmic process. It does not depend
on one man. Kill off, at this instant, every leader of the
people, and the process will go on just the same. The people will
come into their own. Theft will be unseated. It is destiny. It is
the process. Nothing can stop it.

{Margaret}

But it can be retarded.

{Knox}

You and I are no more than straws in relation to it. We cannot
stop it any more than straws can stop an ocean tide. We mean
nothing--except to each other, and to each other we mean all the
world.

{Margaret}

(_Sadly and tenderly._) All the world and immortality thrown in.

{Chalmers}

(_Breaking in._) Nice situation, sitting here and listening to
a strange man woo my wife in terms of sociology and scientific
slang.

(_Both Margaret and Knox ignore him._)

{Knox}

Dear, I want you so.

{Margaret}

(_Despairingly._) Oh! It is so hard to do right!

{Knox}

(_Eagerly._) He wants the letters very badly. Give them up for
Tommy. He will give Tommy for them.

{Chalmers}

No; emphatically no. If she wants Tommy she can stay on; but she
must give up the letters. If she wants you she may go; but she
must give up the letters.

{Knox}

(_Pleading for a decision._) Margaret.

{Margaret}

Howard. Don't tempt me and press me. It is hard enough as it is.

{Chalmers}

(_Standing up._) I've had enough of this. The thing must
be settled, and I leave it to you, Knox. Go on with your
love-making. But I won't be a witness to it. Perhaps
I--er--retard the--er--the flame process. You two must make up
your minds, and you can do it better without me. I am going to
get a drink and settle my nerves. I'll be back in a minute.

(_He moves toward exit to right._) She will yield, Knox. Be warm,
be warm.

(_Pausing in doorway._) Ah, you flame! Flame to some purpose. (_Exit
Chalmers._)

(_Knox