knees, if it must be. Mother, go to him. It is my brother's life!

Hop. (to Winthrop). There's nothing else--for us?

Winth. Our duty. Help me, boy. God knows I need it.

Mrs. S. (coming before Winthrop; speaking in a low, strained
voice). We await your pleasure. Is there nothing you can do? In the
happy memory of the days that are not deeply buried in the past, in
memory of the love we bore to you; in memory of the state that gave you
birth--and that has always held a home for you; in memory of all this,
say what you can do for us. If you take him, then tear out our hearts
and take them too. Oh, surely, there is something you can do. Speak now,
for those who are your kinsmen and have loved you await your answer.

[Winthrop has stood gazing off before him, his hands clenched
at his side. Breathing heavily he turns to them.

Winth. My duty to the country that has put her trust in me must
give your answer, not my heart, for that seems dead (slowly). He must go
with me.

Char. Ah!

[Winthrop, after his answer, has stood gazing off before him.
Fair comes timidly forward, but he does not hear her. She
softly lays her hand upon his arm. He looks down, sees her,
and suddenly a radiant glow of happiness crosses his face,
then vanishes, leaving it cold as before. Fair looks up
into his face, then softly lays her other hand in his.