GIBSON:  Last winter I saw you in a three-dollar seat listening to Caruso.  Have you ever given that much to the organ grinder who comes under these windows?

NORA:  Will it always be so?

GIBSON:  I don’t know.  But it’s so now.

NORA:  But will the plan always fail?

GIBSON:  I think it will until human beings are as near alike as the ants and bees are.  Your system is in full effect with them, but we—­we strive; even in this fellowship here of yours the striving began to show.

NORA [looking up at him appealingly]:  But are these inequalities right?

GIBSON [gently, rather sadly]:  I don’t know.  I only know what is.

NORA:  Well—­I’m whipped.

     [Smiles ruefully, away from him; then she turns again to
     him.]

Are you going to accept that offer?

GIBSON:  What do you say?

     [Her head droops again.  Angry voices are heard, growing louder
     as they approach.  The door is thrown open, and the members of
     the committee, noisily talking, appear in the doorway.]

FRANKEL:  It was a bum deal all through!

SHOMBERG:  Shovin’ his run-down factory off onto us!

RILEY [fiercely]:  You never give us no deed to this plant, Mr. Gibson!

SIMPSON:  They ain’t a court in the land’ll hold us to it!

CARTER:  No, sir; and we’ve voted this is your factory, Mr. Gibson!  We ain’t responsible!

GIBSON:  It is my factory and I’m going to run it!  Any man of you not back at work in ten minutes on the old scale of wages will be fired!

     [The members whoop with joy. FRANKEL and CARTER both try
     to shake hands with GIBSON at once.]

CARTER:  Well, that’s a relief to me.  Thank you, Mr. Gibson!

FRANKEL:  That takes a heap off my mind!

RILEY:  God bless you, sir!

GIBSON:  Never mind that!  You go back to work.

[Whooping, the committee, in great spirits and with the greatest friendliness to one another, depart rapidly.  Closing the door, GIBSON turns briskly to NORA, and speaks in a businesslike way.]

GIBSON:  Nora, will you marry me?

NORA [meekly]:  Yes—­I will.

GIBSON:  Will you marry me to-day?

NORA [with a little more spirit]:  Yes, I will!

GIBSON:  Will you go with me and marry me right now?

NORA [more loudly and promptly]:  Yes, I will!

GIBSON:  Well, then—­