o speak! Miss Hegan, I came to New York, and I met these
rich people, and I saw how their fortunes were poisoning their lives. I
saw men who could not have a real friend in the world, because of their
money. I saw young girls whose souls were utterly dead in them
because they had been brought up to think of themselves as keepers of
money-bags, and to guard against men who sought to prey upon them. I
hated the thing... I fled from it as I would from a plague. In that
world I had met a woman I might have loved... a woman who was noble and
beautiful and true; and yet I dared not speak to her... I dared not even
permit myself to know her... because I was a poor man, and she was rich.
But now she is to be poor also! And so I may speak!

LAURA. [Starting.] Oh!

MONTAGUE. Miss Hegan, from the first time I met you I felt that you were
the woman I should love. But then, as fate would have it, I found myself
preparing to attack your father; so I said that we must never meet
again. But now you see how it has happened. I have come to know you as I
never hoped to know you, and I know that I love you.

LAURA. I had no idea...

MONTAGUE. You say that you are going away alone. Let us go together. We
have the same purpose... we have the same battle to fight. We can go out
to the people and help to teach them.

LAURA. You... you know that you love me?

MONTAGUE. I love you! I want nothing so much as the chance to serve you
and help you. The chance to tell you so is more than I had ever ventured
to hope for. To find you free and alone... to be able to speak to you,
with no thought of wealth or position! To tell you that I love you...
just you! You!

LAURA. I hardly dare to think of it... now... here...

MONTAGUE. We can put all the past behind us... we can take a new start
and win our own way. If only you love me!

LAURA. Ah, to let myself be happy again. How can I?

MONTAGUE. If you love me, then we have the key to happiness... then
everything is clear before us. We can face the world together! Do you
love me? [Stretches out his arms to her.] Laura!

LAURA. [Sways toward him.] I love you.

MONTAGUE. [Embraces her.] My love!

CURTAIN

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