Kate (putting arm around her). Poor child, tell me all without fear, and I will do anything I can to help you.
Liz. You are good and kind, I know, and I will confide in you. He—he told me he loved me, and I—I—believed it. And I loved him with all my heart. Life was nothing to me without him. But one day, with promises to return soon and make me his wife, he left me and I never saw him again until to-day. Ah! it broke my heart! it broke my heart!
(Sinks sobbing on chair, R. C.)
Kate (C., aside). And I, too, loved him. And he dared to speak of love to me, after having ruined the happiness of this confiding child. He whom I thought so good, so noble, who was my ideal of what a man should be. And how unmoved he was in her presence. (Aloud.) Poor girl (goes to Lizzie, kneels and puts her arm around her), you have my deepest sympathy. Be brave; he is not worth those tears. I will be your friend and comfort you all I can. Here (rising), go in this room; he will be back soon and I do not wish you to have the pain of meeting him. What you have told me shall be sacred. I will see you again soon. (Takes her to R.)
Liz. Ah! thank you a thousand times for your goodness. (Exit, R.)
Kate. Yes, he is coming back. Will he speak of his love again, trusting to her silence? His love? His noble words but now were decoys to catch the hand of a supposed heiress by pandering to her theories. Ah, heavens! is there no truth in the world? Unhappy, indeed, must the woman be whose whole life is dependent on the truth or falsehood of a man. Oh, woman's heart! who can escape the suffering its tenderness brings? Strong-minded let me be, and deal with him as he deserves!
(Enter Dr. Endicott, C.)
Dr. E. (coming down R.). I am happy to say your father and I have settled our little affair with mutual satisfaction; and now, Kate (going to her), may I finish the sentence so rudely interrupted? May I dare to ask the one woman in the world for me, to share my life?
Kate (turning from him). I should hardly think you would dare, sir. (Goes to L.)
Dr. E. Kate, do I merit that strange tone of severity?