GEORGIANA.  Well, what’s done’s done?  But, as Louise says, my money’s left.

STEVEN.  Yes, but—­

GEORGIANA.  Mine must do for all of us.

COAST. [Strongly.] Excuse me, but I’ll see that Louise and her mother don’t suffer; you keep your money.

GEORGIANA.  No, that’s not the point, Sam.  I asked you once to give my brother advice and you refused.  You might have prevented this, and now we can get along without your money.  Steve won’t have to go out of his own family to make up as far as he can for what he’s lost out of yours.

[SAM turns away to the mantel.

STEVEN.  Georgy!  O Georgy!  You’re an angel! [Hugging her and kissing her in a transport of relief.] I’ll get out of it, you’ll see!  I’ll cover myself to-morrow.  I can do that with your Croton Bonds and your Mutual Life and a couple of mortgages, and we’ll win in the end, and Louise get hers back and mother too—! [His arm about his wife.] It’s sure in the end, it’s got to be, Louise.

[There is no response from LOUISE.

GEORGIANA.  Steven, I have a condition about my money.

STEVEN. [Crestfallen.] What?

GEORGIANA.  It isn’t to be used as you think.  If I’m to help you, it must be in my own way.

STEVEN.  How do you mean?

GEORGIANA.  What’s lost is lost.  I have between five and six hundred thousand dollars, and we must all live on the income of that.  And you must give your word of honor never to gamble in stocks again.

[SAM comes back to front of table.

LOUISE. [To STEVEN, suddenly realizing it again.] You let all my money go?

GEORGIANA. [To LOUISE.] I will share what I have with you.

STEVEN. [To GEORGIANA.] But you must let me try to get back—­

GEORGIANA. [Interrupting.] It would only be throwing good money after bad!

COAST. [Sardonically.] How about Moles and Lizzie?

GEORGIANA.  Don’t you worry about them!  Moles and Lizzie shall have their money back, of course.

STEVEN.  But I can’t do it, Georgy.  It’s losing—­why it’s like losing a million to us!

GEORGIANA.  Suppose you went on speculating with my money, and it went the same way as Louise’s and her mother’s?

COAST. And Lizzie’s and Moles?

STEVEN.  But it can’t—­it can’t!

[STEVEN sits on the sofa. GEORGIANA sits beside STEVEN.  LOUISE is still in the arm-chair Left.

GEORGIANA.  O Steve!  I’ve heard that so often. [A pause.] You were always a straight boy, Steve, and you always kept your word.  Your notion of honor, it seems to me, in little things hasn’t been so strong lately, as this fever of speculation grew on you, but still you are the same Steve and you’ve never lied about your transactions; so I have faith in you.  Now let’s settle this once and for all and my way!