JAMES.  I hope you’ll be happy, Catherine.

CATHERINE.  James, Uncle died smiling at me—­thinking of me ... and just before he went, he gave me his mother’s wedding ring and asked me to marry Frederik.  I shall never forget how happy he was when I promised.  That was all he wanted.  His last smile was for me ... and there he sat—­still smiling after he was gone ... the smile of a man leaving the world perfectly satisfied—­at peace.  It’s like a hand on my heart—­hurting it—­ when I question anything he wanted.  I couldn’t meet him in the hereafter if I didn’t do everything he wished; I couldn’t say my prayers at night; I couldn’t speak his name in them....  He trusted me; depended upon me; did everything for me; so I must do this for him....  I wanted you to know this, James, because ...

JAMES.  Why haven’t you told Frederik the truth?

CATHERINE.  I have.

JAMES.  That you don’t love him? [CATHERINE doesn’t answer, but JAMES knows.] ...  And he’s willing to take you like that?—­a little girl like you—­in that way....  God!  He’s rotten all the way through.  He’s even worse than I thought.  Katie, I didn’t mean to say a word of this to-day—­ not a word; but a moment since—­something made me change my mind—­I don’t know what!... [PETER smiles.] I felt that I must talk to you.  You looked so young, so helpless, such a child.  You’ve never had to think for yourself—­you don’t know what you’re doing.  You couldn’t live under it, Catherine.  You’re making the greatest mistake possible, if you marry where you don’t love.  Why should you carry out your uncle’s plans?  You’re going to be wretched for life to please a dead man who doesn’t know it; or, if he does know it, regrets it bitterly.

PETER.  I agree with you now, James.

CATHERINE.  You musn’t say that, James.

JAMES.  But I will say it—­I will speak my mind.  I don’t care how fond you were of your uncle or how much he did for you—­it wasn’t right to ask this of you.  It wasn’t fair.  The whole thing is the mistake of a very obstinate old man.

CATHERINE.  James!

JAMES.  I loved him, too; but he was an obstinate old man.  Sometimes I think it was the Dutch blood in his veins.

PETER.  A very frank, outspoken fellow.  I like to hear him talk—­now.

JAMES.  Do you know why I was sent away?  Why I quarrelled with your uncle?  I said that I loved you ... he asked me....  I didn’t tell him because I had any hopes—­I hadn’t....  I haven’t now.... [Struck.] But in spite of what I’m saying ...  I don’t know what makes me think that I ...  I could take you in my arms and you would let me ... but I do think it.

CATHERINE. [Retreats, backing towards PETER.] No!...  Don’t touch me,
James—­you mustn’t!  Don’t!...  Don’t!

PETER pushes her into JAMES’ arms, without touching her.  She exclaims “Oh, James!” and fairly runs towards JAMES as though violently propelled.  In reality, she thinks that she is yielding to an impulse.  As she reaches him, she exclaims “No,” and turns back, but JAMES, with outstretched arms, catches her.