Dad. What’s the matter?

Jessie. Nothing.  Come on!

Dad. Wait till I see what this is.

Jessie. It’s nothing, Dad.

Dad. How do you know it’s nothing?

Jessie. I want to show you the bills.

Dad. Well, wait just a moment.  The bills won’t run away.

Jessie (aside to Bob). Lost!

Dad. Why, what’s that?  Isn’t that Jack’s voice?  Why-why-good God! (Jack appears in doorway, with Belle on His arm, Dolly and Bill behind him.  All stare.)

Jack (staggers to chair with Belle). Excuse me, please. (He proceeds to loosen Belle’s coat, tears away her collar.  She is half fainting.) Get me a glass of wine!  Quick! (Bob obeys.) A fan, somebody! (Jessie seizes a newspaper and hands it to him.  Dolly kneels at Belle’s other side.) She’ll be all right in a moment—­she’s exhausted.  Ah!  Better? (He rises and speaks swiftly, intensely.) You see what’s the matter.  The girl is ill; she’s nearly dying.  I had to get help for her. (To Bob.) You must excuse me, old man.  I had to give up the wager.  This was too much for me.  You see—­(Hesitates.) I guess you were right.  I ran into the reality of life, and it floored me.  You may kid me all you please, I’ll take my medicine.  But there was this girl—­I had to come back, you see. (To Dad.) Excuse me, Dad, for making such a mess of it.  But I couldn’t punish this girl for my sins.  I had to give up my quarter of a million, and save her life.

Dad. What’s the matter with the girl?

Jack. She’s been worked to death.  Standing on her feet in a restaurant fourteen hours a day.

Jessie. Oh!

Jack. And you see, Jessie—­I remembered how you’d gone to Florida and got well. (To the others.) Look at the difference!  Look at the contrast between them.  That was what knocked me out—­I couldn’t get away from it.  I’ve got to send this girl to Florida and give her the same chance that Jessie had.

Jessie. Who is she?

Jack. She was a waitress.  She helped me when I was starving.  And now I have to help her.  She’s as good as gold, Jessie, and you must be kind to her.  It wasn’t fair that she should die, just because I’d been an idler, a good for nothing!  Bob—­you’ll be satisfied when you know what a lesson I’ve had.  You can’t imagine how I feel, coming out of it—­it’s like escaping from a nightmare!  I can’t quite believe it’s over. (He stands staring before him). And then I think—­I’ve brought her out with me, but how many others I left behind me!  Tens of thousands of others, down there in a pit!  Belle, look at me!  It was a bad dream, and now it’s over!  Here’s my sister—­see!  She was as sick as you, and now, how well she is!  Look at her cheeks—­touch her—­take her hand.  And you shall be like that, you shall start for Florida right away!  Can’t you believe it, Dolly?