COAST. Smart old girl!

GEORGIANA.  She’s all the happier for being silly, and she’s a good soul and does her best!  What’s your news, Steve?

[Turning to STEVEN.

STEVEN.  Sam, would you mind?

[Motions to COAST to leave the room.

COAST. Oh, no! [Rises.] See you later!  I’ll go and take a squint at auntie.

[He goes out Right.

GEORGIANA.  Steve, you look troubled—­what’s gone wrong?

[She goes to STEVEN on the sofa and sits beside him.

STEVEN. I have!

GEORGIANA.  How do you mean?  You and Louise haven’t quarrelled?

STEVEN.  If it was only that!

GEORGIANA.  What then?

STEVEN.  I’ve gone wrong, I tell you, all wrong.

GEORGIANA.  How?  In what way, Steve?

STEVEN.  Your money’s lost, it’s all lost.

[GEORGIANA rises.  A pause.

GEORGIANA.  How do you mean?

STEVEN.  And that isn’t the worst of it, either.  I’ve broken my word to you!  I know I’ve killed your faith in me.  I’ve lost faith in myself.

GEORGIANA. [Still standing, very strong.] Steve!

STEVEN.  I’ve speculated!

GEORGIANA. No, Steve!

STEVEN. [Rises and goes to the mantel.] Yes, I’ve been speculating since the very day I said I wouldn’t.  I won a lot at first, and of course I thought I’d get all back; and then, of course, what I did get back was my old cursed luck!

GEORGIANA.  Oh, Steve!  And I believed in you so thoroughly, I never had a doubt!

STEVEN.  I know it!  I know it!  I’m rotten all through, Georgy. [Bursting into tears.] I’m not worth being forgiven—­[He falls on his knees, in a paroxysm of sobs and tears.] I’m rotten!  Oh—­I’m rotten—­

[He sobs uncontrollably.

[GEORGIANA watches him a little while in silence.  Then she goes to him and puts her hand on his shoulder.

GEORGIANA.  Steve!

STEVEN. [Sobbing.] Yes!

GEORGIANA.  I forgive you!

STEVEN.  No!  No!

GEORGIANA.  And I’ll trust you again if I have a chance.

STEVEN. [Looking up.] Georgy, what do you mean?

[Beginning to control his sobs.

GEORGIANA.  I mean, though it’s been a pretty big blow, my faith in you isn’t altogether gone yet.

STEVEN.  Oh, I can’t bear it!  I can’t bear it!  But you don’t mean it!  No, you can’t mean it!  How could you?  Forgive me?  Trust me again?  No, no!  You couldn’t—­it’s all over!  I’ve thrown away my own money first, then my wife’s and her mother’s—­that ought to have been enough,—­but I had to go and break my word of honor to you, and lose every penny of yours!  There’s no excuse for me, nor reason to forgive.

GEORGIANA. [After a moment, very quietly, with her eyes filling.]
There’s love, Steve!