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[Going further toward him—she can now touch him with her hand]

Please, Doctor, you must give her strength to do this right thing that seems to her so right and then so wrong!

[She puts out her hand and takes one of his]

[Thinking frightenedly]

Whose hand is this? it burns me I kissed her once  her lips were cold  now they would burn with happiness for me!

[Taking his other hand and slowly pulling him around to face her, although he does not look at her—pleadingly]

Now she feels your strength. It gives her the courage to ask you, Doctor, to suggest the father. She has changed, Doctor, since she became Sam’s wife. She can’t bear the thought now of giving herself to any man she could neither desire nor respect. So each time her thoughts come to the man she must select they are afraid to go on! She needs your courage to choose!

[As if listening to himself]

Sam is my friend well, and isn’t she your friend? her two hands are so warm! I must not even hint at my desire!

[Judicially calm]

Well, the man must be someone who is not unattractive to her physically, of course.

Ned always attracted her.