Jack (hoarsely). No, it is not so! And if it is, Ometsu and I will run the risk. (He looks down at her, but she stands like a statue.)
Belson. You wouldn’t like your brother to marry Maitland’s sister in England, and then sail away out of your lives. His mother is a widow. Who is going to look after her and her affairs when she grows old? (Pause.) Apart from that, do you think that he will be happy knowing that he has deserted the Navy?
Jack. Grrrrrrrrh! There are plenty more without me!
Belson. No country can afford to lose good men. And you will be lost, Maitland—lost—if you carry out this mad project——
Jack. Very well, let me be mad!
Ometsu (to Belson in a strained voice). Do you really believe that if I married Jack I should spoil his life?
Jack (in agony). Ometsu! Don’t think of such a thing!
Ometsu (looks at Belson, and he bows in the affirmative. She continues, in the same strained voice). I remember now that during the war the women were called on to sacrifice themselves. Jack, if you don’t go back your country will lose one man—one good man. Who knows, dear, that one day, years to come, you may be the one man who might save your country! Ought we to run that risk?
Jack. But, darling, that is too preposterous——
Ometsu. No, dear, it isn’t. No one can tell who will be the saviour of his country. Jack, darling, we must think of that. We must—I must—think of what ought to be done for love of country.... You will have to go—Jack.