HEGAN. I see, my dear, that you are frightfully overwrought, and that you are making yourself ill. Can't you imagine what it means to me to have you acting in this way? Here I am at one of the gravest crises of my life; I am working day and night, under frightful strain... I have hardly slept six hours in the past three days. And here, when I get a chance for a moment's rest, you come and put me through such an ordeal! You never think of that!
LAURA. It's just what I do think of! Why must you torture yourself so? Why...
HEGAN. My dear, I, too, am in the grip of the system you speak of.
LAURA. But why? Why stay in it? Haven't we money enough yet?
HEGAN. I have duties by which I am bound... interests that I must protect. How can I... [A knock.] Come in!
ANDREWS. [Enters.] Here are the papers, Mr. Hegan. They must be signed now if they're to catch this mail.
HEGAN. All right.
[Sits at desk up stage and writes.]
LAURA. [Stands by table, staring before her; picks up book carelessly from table.] "Ivanhoe"... [Fingers it idly and a slip of paper falls to floor. She picks it up, glances at it, then starts.] Oh!.. . [Reads.] "Memo to G., two hundred thousand on Court deal. GRIMES." Two hundred thousand on Court deal! [Glances back at her father; then replaces slip and lays book on table.] Father, have you read "Ivanhoe"?
HEGAN. [Without looking up.] I'm reading it now. Why? Do you want it?