AUSTIN. Yes. To-day the club has died.
ELSIE. Died!
AUSTIN. Yes. You know something of what the club has meant to me. I made it, built it, fostered it, and now it's dead. There's been a meeting since the match. The other directors had pence in where I had pounds. They won't put another farthing down to save the club, and I can't. I'm ruined. But that isn't what I'm here for now. I've lost to-day a greater thing than money.
ELSIE. Ruined! Father, what do you mean?
MRS. METHERELL. You needn't fret. Ruined is a way of talking. He'll have a nest-egg left to pay your servants and your milliner's bills.
AUSTIN. No. It means literally ruined. Metherell has cause to know my case was pretty desperate.
JACK. I didn't know how bad.
AUSTIN. Could you have acted any differently if you had?
JACK. You know I couldn't.
AUSTIN (sincerely). No. You've showed up well to-day, and I've showed badly.