ition go bankrupt. You can live very comfortably on his reputation for immense wealth.
ELLIE. I cannot commit bigamy, Lady Utterword.
| MRS HUSHABYE. | [Exclaiming, all together] | Bigamy! Whatever on earth are you talking about, Ellie? | ||
| LADY UTTERWORD. | Bigamy! What do you mean, Miss Dunn? | |||
| MANGAN. Bigamy! | Do you mean to say you're married already? | |||
| HECTOR. | Bigamy! This is some enigma. |
ELLIE. Only half an hour ago I became Captain Shotover's white wife.
MRS HUSHABYE. Ellie! What nonsense! Where?
ELLIE. In heaven, where all true marriages are made.
LADY UTTERWORD. Really, Miss Dunn! Really, papa!
MANGAN. He told me I was too old! And him a mummy!
HECTOR. [quoting Shelley]
- "Their altar the grassy earth outspreads
- And their priest the muttering wind."
ELLIE. Yes: I, Ellie Dunn, give my broken heart and my strong sound soul to its natural captain, my spiritual husband and second father.
She draws the captain's arm through hers, and pats his hand. The captain remains fast asleep.
MRS HUSHABYE. Oh, that's very clever of you, pettikins. Very clever. Alfred, you could never have lived up to Ellie. You must be content with a little share of me.
MANGAN [snifflng and wiping his eyes]. It isn't kind—[his emotion chokes him].
