Half Ireland cared nothing for the verdict of an English
jury. But when we married, they had to believe it then.... Well, I wanted
them to believe it. I know my love would have waited, had I asked her. And
it wasn't--it wasn't honour, my dear; it was much more pride: for I am a
proud man, that I own: and not less since I have won you.
KATHARINE. If you hadn't been proud, dearest, you would never have got my
love.
PARNELL. Oh, yes, I should. Those who love, don't love for qualities good
or bad. They love them in the person they love--that's all. You have
qualities which I didn't care about till I found them in you. To love is
to see life--new!
KATHARINE. And whole. Some day--alone by ourselves--we will!
PARNELL. Don't we already?
KATHARINE. Yes, if only--these other things didn't interfere. But I
promised; so they must.
PARNELL. My dear, when they have quite broken me--they will in time--then
I'll come.
KATHARINE. You promise to go right away?
PARNELL. I promise, sweetheart.
(_Moving toward each other they are about to embrace, when the door
opens, and the Servant enters carrying a card upon a tray_.)
SERVANT. If you please, sir.
(_Parnell takes the card; there is a pause while he looks at the
name_)
PARNELL. Will you say I am engaged.
(_The Servant goes. Parnell hands the card to his wife_.)
I don't know the man. Do you?
KATHARINE. No. And yet I seem to remember. Yes; Willie had a man-servant
of that name.
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