Chapter 3

(_Two months later_)

_The Vatican, Rome; the Tribune of the Apollo Belvedere; a semicircular room with dark red walls; in the centre is the large statue of Apollo. There are doorways at Right and Left. There is a bench on the right side of the room. A single LADY TOURIST enters Right, takes a hasty glance, yawns, and looking down at her Baedeker, goes out Left. A PAPAL GUARD is seen passing outside in the court. A FRENCHMAN and his WIFE (with Baedekers) are seen approaching; they are heard talking volubly. They enter Left._

BOTH. Ah!--

[_They stand a moment in silent admiration._

HE. [_Reading from Baedeker._] Apollo Belvedere. [_He looks up._] C'est superb!

SHE. [_Beaming with admiration._] Magnifique! Voilà un homme!

HE. _Quelle grace!_

SHE. _Quelle force!_

[_Both talk at once in great admiration and intense excitement for a few moments. Then he suddenly drops into his ordinary tone and manner._

HE. Allons, allons nous!

SHE. [_In the same tone._] Oui, j'ai faim!

[_They go out Right._

[_JINNY and AUSTIN enter Left, he looking over his shoulder. They stand a moment just inside the doorway._

JINNY. What are you looking back so much for, Jackie?

AUSTIN. I thought I saw some one I know.

JINNY. Who?

AUSTIN. I didn't know who; it just seemed to be a familiar back.

JINNY. [_Playfully._] Oh, come! I think the present works of art and your loving wife are quite enough for you to look at without hunting around for familiar backs!

AUSTIN. And Baedeker! [_Reading from Baedeker about the Apollo._] Apollo Belvedere, found at the end of the fifteenth century, probably in a Roman villa--

JINNY. Of course, Apollo!

AUSTIN. Great, isn't it?

JINNY. Stunning! [_She turns and looks at him, smiling quizzically._] _Still_--but I suppose I'm prejudiced!

AUSTIN. [_Obtuse._] Still what?

JINNY. You dear old stupid! You know, Jack, you're deeply and _fundamentally_ clever and brilliant, but you're not quite-- _bright_-- _not quick_!

[_Laughing._

AUSTIN. Don't you think having _one_ in the family quick as chain lightning is enough? What have I missed this time, Jinny? You don't mean you've found a family likeness in the statue over there? I don't want to be unappreciative, but it doesn't suggest your father to me in the least,--nor even Geoffrey.

JINNY. _Stupid!!_ Of course it doesn't _suggest_ anybody to me--I was only thinking I sympathized with Mrs. Perkins of Boston,--don't you know the old story about her?

AUSTIN. No, what was it?

JINNY. [_After a quick look around to see that they are alone._] Well--Mrs. Perkins from Boston was personally conducted here once and shown this very statue, and she looked at it for a few moments, and then turned around and said, "Yes, it's all right, but give _me Perkins_!"

AUSTIN. Jinny!

[_Laughing._

JINNY. Are you shocked? Come, I'm tired; let's sit down here and read my letters--there's one from Geof.

[_They sit on the bench at Right, and JINNY takes out a letter from GEOFFREY._

AUSTIN. I'll read ahead in Baedeker and you tell me if there's any news. [_He opens the Baedeker and reads, and she opens and reads the letter._] Where is Geof's letter from?

JINNY. New York, of course; where else would it be?

AUSTIN. I had an idea he was going away.

JINNY. Geof! Where?

AUSTIN. West, a good way somewhere.

JINNY. But _why_ would he go West?

AUSTIN. Oh, he had some business, I believe; I remember thinking it was a good idea when he told me. It was the day we were married--I was waiting for you to come downstairs.

JINNY. I think it's very funny Geof never said anything about it to _me_.

AUSTIN. My dear, what time had _you_? You were _getting married_!!

JINNY. I _was_! Thank heaven! I'm _so happy_, Jack!

[_Snuggling up to him on the bench._

AUSTIN. [_Steals a little, quick hug with his arm about her waist._] Bless you, darling, I don't think there was ever a man as happy as I am!

[_They start apart quickly as a GERMAN COUPLE enter Right, with a YOUNG DAUGHTER, who is munching a cake, and hanging, a tired and unwilling victim, to her mother's hand._

WOMAN. Ach! schön! sehr schön!!

MAN. Grösses, nicht?

WOMAN. _Yah!_

[_They stand admiring._

AUSTIN. By the way, when you answer your brother's letter, I wish you'd say I seemed surprised he was still in New York.

JINNY. [_Reading._] Um--um--

MAN. [_Wiping his warm brow._] _Wunderbaum!_

WOMAN. _Yah!!_

[_They go out Left, talking._

JINNY. [_Looking up from her letter._] Oh! what do you think?

AUSTIN. That you're the sweetest woman in the world.

JINNY. No, _darling_, I mean _who_ do you think Geoffrey says is over here and in Italy?

AUSTIN. I haven't the most remote idea! So far as _I've_ been able to observe there has been absolutely _no one_ in Italy but _you and me_.

JINNY. If you keep on talking like that, I shall kiss you!

AUSTIN. What! before the tall, white gentleman? [_Motioning to Apollo._] I am dumb.

JINNY. [_Very lovingly._] Silly! Well!--Mrs. Cullingham and Peter are over here and have brought Ruth Chester!

AUSTIN. [_Speaking without thinking._] Then it _was_ her back.

JINNY. [_With the smallest sharpening of the look in her eye._] When?

AUSTIN. That I saw just now.

JINNY. [_With the tiniest suggestion of a strain in her voice._] You said you didn't know whom it reminded you of.

AUSTIN. Yes, I know, I didn't quite.

JINNY. But if you thought it was Ruth Chester, why not have said so?

AUSTIN. No reason, dear, I simply didn't think.

JINNY. Well-- [_Sententiously._] --_next time--think!_

AUSTIN. What else does Geoffrey say?

JINNY. Oh, nothing. The heat for two days was frightful--already they miss me more than he can say--

[_Interrupted._

AUSTIN. I'll bet.

JINNY. Father smoked nineteen cigars a day the first week I was gone.

AUSTIN. _I_ haven't _had_ to smoke _any_!

JINNY. Mercy! don't boast!--and he thinks they will all soon go to Long Island for the summer.

AUSTIN. Doesn't he say a word nor a hint at his going West?

JINNY. No, he says he may go to Newport for August, and that's all.

[_Putting away letter, and getting out others._

AUSTIN. Going to read all those?

JINNY. If you don't mind, while I rest. _Do_ you mind?

AUSTIN. Of course not, but I think while you're reading I'll just take a little turn and see if I can't come across the Cullinghams.

[_Rising._

JINNY. [_After the merest second's pause, and looking seriously at him._] Why don't you?

AUSTIN. I'll bring them here if I find them--

[_He goes out Right._

[_JINNY looks up where he went off and gazes, motionless, for a few moments. Then she throws off the mood and opens a letter._

[_Two tired Americans enter Right, a girl and her mother, MRS. LOPP and CARRIE._

MRS. LOPP. What's this, Carrie?

CARRIE. [_Looking in her Baedeker._] I don't know; I've sort of lost my place, somehow!

MRS. LOPP. Well, we must be in Room No. 3 or 4--ain't we?

CARRIE. [_Reads out._] The big statue at the end of Room No. 3 is Diana the Huntress.

MRS. LOPP. This must be it, then,--Diana! Strong-looking woman, ain't she?

CARRIE. Yes, very nice. You know she was the goddess who wouldn't let the men see her bathe.

MRS. LOPP. Mercy, Carrie! and did all the other goddesses? I don't think much of their habits. I suppose this is the same person those Italians sell on the streets at home, and call the Bather.

[_JINNY is secretly very much amused, finally she speaks._

JINNY. Excuse me, but you are in one of the cabinets--and this is the Apollo Belvedere.

MRS. LOPP. Oh, thank you very much. I guess we've got mixed up with the rooms,--seems as if there's so many.

CARRIE. [_Triumphantly._] There! I _thought_ it was a man all the time!

MRS. LOPP. Well, what with so many of the statues only being piecemeal, as it were, and so many of the men having kinder women's hair, I declare it seems as if I don't know the ladies from the gentlemen half the time.

CARRIE. Did the rest of us go through here?

JINNY. I beg your pardon?

CARRIE. Thirty-four people with a gassy guide? We got so tired hearing him talk that we jes' sneaked off by ourselves, and now we're a little scared about getting home; we belong to the Cook's Gentlemen and Ladies.

JINNY. Oh, no, the others haven't passed through here; probably they have gone to see the pictures; you'd better go back and keep asking the attendants the way to the pictures till you get there.

MRS. LOPP. [_With rather subdued voice._] Thank you! We've come to do Europe and the Holy Land in five weeks for $400--but I don't know, seems as if I'm getting awful tired--after jes' sevin days.

CARRIE. [_Affectionately._] Now, mommer, don't give up; it's because you haven't got over being seasick yet; that's all!

JINNY. [_Helplessly._] Oh, yes, you'll find it much less tiring in a few days, I'm sure.

MRS. LOPP. Still Rome does seem a powerful way from _home_! How'll we ask for the pictures?

CARRIE. Why, mommer! "Tableaux!" "Tableaux!" I should think you'd 'a' learned that from our church entertainments! Good-by; thank you ever so much.

MRS. LOPP. You haven't lost _your party_, too, have you?

JINNY. [_Smiling._] I hope not! He _promised_ to come back!!

MRS. LOPP. Oh! pleased to have met you--Good-by!

[_They start off Left._

JINNY. No, not that way--back the way you came.

MRS. LOPP. Oh, thank you!

[_She drops her black silk bag; out of it drop crackers, an account book, a thimble, a thread-and-needle case, a bottle of pepsin tablets, etc. They all stoop to pick the collection up, JINNY helping._

JINNY. [_Handing._] I'm sure you'll want these!

MRS. LOPP. Yes, indeed; don't you find them coupon meals very dissatisfactory?

CARRIE. Thank you ever so much again. Come on, mommer!

[_MRS. LOPP and CARRIE go out Left._

[_JINNY looks at her watch and goes back to her letter._

[_MRS. CULLINGHAM enters Left._

MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Screams._] Jinny!

JINNY. [_Jumps up._] Mrs. Cullingham! [_They embrace._] Did Jack find you?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. No, we haven't seen him! Ruth and Peter are dawdling along, each on their own; I like to shoot through a gallery. There's no use spending so much time; when it's over you've mixed everything all up just the same!

JINNY. [_Laughing._] Well, I've this minute read a letter from Geoffrey saying you were over here. And Jack, who thought he got a glimpse of you a little while ago, went straight off to try and find you.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. What fun it is to see you--and how _happy_ you look!

JINNY. I couldn't _look_ as happy as I _feel_!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Glancing at the statue._] Who's your friend? Nice gent, isn't he?

[_Laughing._

JINNY. Mr. Apollo! Would you like to meet him?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Hesitates._] Er--no--I don't think! You must draw the line somewhere! He wouldn't do a thing to Corbett, would he?

JINNY. Who was Corbett?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. He was a prize fighter, and _is_--but that's another story-- Do you mean to say you've never heard of him?

JINNY. Oh, the name sounds familiar. But this, you know, is Apollo.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. No, I don't know; was he a champion?

JINNY. No, he was a Greek god!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh, was he? Well, I wouldn't have cared about being in the tailoring business in those days, would you? Let's sit down. [_They sit on bench Right._] Of course you know we wouldn't accept a thing like that in Peoria, where I come from, as a gift! No, indeed! If the King of Italy sent it over to our Mayor, he'd return it C.O.D.

JINNY. Sounds like Boston and the Macmonnies Bacchante!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh, my dear, _worse_ than that! It reminds me of a man at home who kept an underclothing store in our principal street and had a plaster cast of this gent's brother, I should think, in his window to show a suit of Jaegers on,--you know, a "combination"! And our Town Committee of Thirteen for the moral improvement of Peoria made the man take it out of his window and hang the suit up empty!

JINNY. Poor man!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. You ought to see our Park!--you know we've got a perfectly beautiful park,--and all the _men_ statues wear Prince Alberts, and stand like this-- [_She poses with lifted arm at right angle to body._] --as if they were saying, "This way out" or "To the monkey cage and zoo."

JINNY. [_Laughing._] But the women statues?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. My dear! They only have heads and hands; all the rest's just clumps of drapery--we only have "Americans" and "Libertys," anyway. They apply the Chinese emigration law to all Venuses and _sich ladies_!

[_They both laugh._

JINNY. Where did you say Peter and Ruth were?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Well, I left Peter--who isn't at all well; I hoped this trip would help his indigestion, but it seems to have made it worse!--I left him--er--in a room with a lot of _broken-up Venuses_--I thought it was all right; he was eating candy, and there wasn't a whole woman among 'em!

JINNY. [_Slight strain in her voice._] How did you happen to bring over Ruth Chester?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Well, you know I always liked her. She never snubbed me in her life--I don't think any one you've introduced me to has been quite so nice to Peter and me as Mrs. Chester and her daughter.

JINNY. O they _are_ real people!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Ruth is terribly depressed over something. She's thin as a rail and the family are worried. She says there's nothing worrying her, and the doctors can't find anything the matter with her,--so Mrs. Chester asked me if I wouldn't take her abroad. They thought the voyage and change might do her good, and I seem to have a more cheery influence over her than most people. So here we are! [_As PETER enters Left, eating._] Here's Peter! How do you think the darling looks?

PETER. How do you do, Mrs. Austin?

JINNY. How do you do, Peter? [_They shake hands._] I'm sorry to hear you are seedy, but you eat too many sweet things.

PETER. I'm not eating candy; it's soda mints! [_Showing a small bottle._] I _am_ bad to-day, mother.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. If you don't get better, we'll go to Carlsbad.

JINNY. How do you like Rome, Peter?

PETER. Oh, I don't know--too much Boston and not enough Chicago to make it a real lively town.

JINNY. [_Laughing._] I think I'll go look for Jack and tell him you've turned up.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Perhaps he's found Ruth.

JINNY. [_With a change in her voice._] Yes, perhaps.

[_She goes out Right._

PETER. [_Going to the doorway Right, calls after her._] Ruth's in a room on your left, with rows of men's heads on shelves, Emperors and things,--but gee, such a _job lot_!

[_Comes back and looks up at the statue._

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Isn't it beautiful, Peter?

PETER. No, it's _too big_!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Still this one isn't broken!

PETER. That's a comfort! Yes, it has been mended, too! [_Examining._] Oh, yes, it's only another of these second-hand statues. Say, you missed one whole one, the best I've seen yet! A Venus off in a fine little room, all mosaics and painted walls,--that's where I've been.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Why, Peter Cullingham! _Alone?_ What kind of a Venus?

PETER. Oh, beautiful! I forgot to take my medicine!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Was she--er--_dressed_, darling?

PETER. We--you know--she _had_ been, but she'd sort of pushed it a good way off!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_With a sigh._] You know we _ought_ to admire these things, Peter darling; that's partly what we've come to Europe for!

PETER. O pshaw! here comes a gang of tourists. Come on, let's skip!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. But Ruth and Mrs. Austin?

PETER. We didn't agree to wait, and we can all meet at our hotel.

[_A crowd of TOURISTS, led by a GUIDE, presses and crowds in the doorway. They drag their tired feet in a listless shuffle across the room and stand in a somewhat sheepish and stupid bunch at the statue. One or two of the younger women nudge each other and giggle. The GUIDE stands a little in advance of them. The GUIDE describes the statue, and while he is doing so PETER and MRS. CULLINGHAM go out Right. Most of the TOURISTS turn and watch them go instead of looking at the statue._

GUIDE. This is the Apollo Belvedere, discovered at the end of the fifteenth century, some say in a Roman villa or farm-house near the Grotter Terratter. Very fine specimen both as marble and man. This statyer is calculated to make Sandow et cetery look like thirty cents. Height seven feet, weight--

A MAN TOURIST. How much?

A GIRL TOURIST. Was he married?

[_Titters from the group._

GUIDE. Give it up! Should judge he was. The god once held a bow in his left hand and probably a laurel wreath in his right.

ANOTHER WOMAN TOURIST. A what?

GUIDE. A laurel wreath. You want to take a good look at this, as it is a very fine piece. Now come along, please--make haste; we must finish up this place before feeding!

[_He leads the way out Right, and the TOURISTS follow, shuffling along, without speaking, MRS. LOPP and CARRIE lagging in the rear._

[_AUSTIN enters Left, followed by RUTH._

AUSTIN. This is where I left her with Apollo! [_Calls._] Jinny! She seems to have gone!

[_He looks behind the statue and out door, Right._

RUTH. Probably the Cullinghams, who were headed in this direction, found her, and they've all gone back for us; you see I walked all around the court first without going into the rooms, so I missed them, but found you.

AUSTIN. What shall we do? Sit down here and wait for them to come back, or shall I go in search?

RUTH. Oh, no, you might miss them, and then we'd all be lost! If you left Jinny here, she's sure to come back to meet you.

[_She sits on the bench and AUSTIN stands behind her._

AUSTIN. I'm sorry to learn you've been ill.

RUTH. Oh! it's nothing.

AUSTIN. Ah, I'm afraid it's a good deal. Will you forgive me if I say I think I know what it is!

[_She looks up startled._

[_After a moment._

You haven't forgotten the day of Jinny's and my wedding, when you told me Geoffrey Tillman needed a friend?

RUTH. I hoped _you'd_ forgotten; I oughtn't to have told you; I _oughtn't_ to have!

AUSTIN. Why not? I had a talk with Geoffrey, then, and he told me everything.

RUTH. He did! You are sure?

AUSTIN. Sure.

[_He sits beside her._

RUTH. That he and I--

AUSTIN. Love each other.

RUTH. Oh, but that isn't all.

AUSTIN. I know the rest!

RUTH. He told you--about--about--

AUSTIN. The marriage?--Yes?

RUTH. Oh, I'm so glad, so glad! Now I can speak of it to some one, and some one who can advise me, and will help us.

AUSTIN. I have already advised him, but he doesn't seem to be taking my advice; it has worried me.

RUTH. When I left he was awfully depressed. He said he saw no prospect of being able to publish our marriage for years, maybe!

AUSTIN. _What_ marriage?

[_In astonishment._

RUTH. _Our_ marriage, in Brooklyn! [_She notices his expression and is alarmed._] You said he had told you!

AUSTIN. [_Recovering himself, and speaking at first with hesitation._] Yes, but not the details, not--wait, I'm a little confused. [_Rising and walking a moment._] Let's get it all quite clear now, that's the only way I can help you--both; I ought, of course, to have gone through it all with him, but there really wasn't time.

RUTH. I can't go on like this much longer. It's killing me to deceive mother; I _must_ tell her soon!

AUSTIN. [_Quickly, stops walking._] No. You mustn't, not yet, if I'm going to help you; you'll obey me, won't you?

RUTH. Yes, if you only will help us!

AUSTIN. You said you and Geoffrey Tillman were married where?

RUTH. In Brooklyn.

AUSTIN. When?

RUTH. A month before your wedding.

AUSTIN. [_To himself._] It's impossible!

[_Walking up and down._

RUTH. [_Smiling sadly._] Oh, no! I remember the date only too well.

AUSTIN. I didn't mean that.

RUTH. I lied to my mother that day for the first time--at any rate, since I was a child--and I've been lying to her ever since.

AUSTIN. [_Probing her._] But--but why were you married so secretly?

RUTH. We couldn't afford to marry and set up for ourselves. He expected then to be sent off at once to the Philippines, and--well he didn't want to leave me behind, free; I'm afraid he's rather jealous--you must have found out by now that Jinny is. They all are! And _I_ didn't want him to go so far off without my belonging to him either; _I'm_ that jealous, too! [_Smiling._] So--that's why!

AUSTIN. And this long period of secrecy since then--do you understand that?

Ruth. Hasn't he explained to you his debts? You know before he loved me he was very fast, but since--

AUSTIN. Yes, I know how he gave up every one of his old habits with a great deal of courage.

RUTH. _Nobody_ knows what it cost him! How can you help us? Get him something to do to pay off his debts? Or can't you make him feel even if we do have to go on living at our different homes for a while, it is better to publish the fact that we are married?--

AUSTIN. I shall go back at once to America if I can persuade Jinny!

RUTH. And I, too?

AUSTIN. No. You must stay abroad till I send word for you to come home. If I am going to help you, you will help me by doing exactly as I say, won't you?

RUTH. Yes.

AUSTIN. It's _very_ important that you should _absolutely obey me_!

RUTH. _I will._

[_A pause._

[_JINNY, unnoticed by either of them, appears in the doorway at Right. AUSTIN is walking up and down. RUTH is leaning her elbow on the back of the bench and burying her face in her hands._

AUSTIN. It's awful! My God, it's awful!

JINNY. [_In a strained, assumed, nonchalant tone._] _What is?_

RUTH. Jinny!

[_Rising._

AUSTIN. I didn't hear you, Jinny!

JINNY. No, you both seemed so absorbed.

RUTH. [_Going to JINNY._] I'm so glad to see you.

[_Kisses her, but JINNY only gives her her cheek and that rather unwillingly; she is looking all the time at her husband._

JINNY. Thank you, I've just left the Cullinghams. They sent word to you they were going and would wait for you outside.

RUTH. Oh, then, I mustn't keep them waiting. We'll all meet at dinner to-night, won't we? Good-by--good-by.

[_With a grateful look at AUSTIN, she goes out Right._

JINNY. [_Watches her go; then turns to AUSTIN._] That wasn't true, what I told her--I haven't seen the Cullinghams, and I don't know where they are, and what's more, I don't care!

AUSTIN. What do you mean?

JINNY. [_Beginning by degrees to lose control of herself._] What did _she_ mean by _following you_ to Rome?

AUSTIN. Jinny!

JINNY. Oh, don't try to deny it; that'll only make me suspect _you_!

AUSTIN. My dear girl, you don't know what you're saying!

JINNY. She's ill, they say at home! Yes, and they don't know what's the matter with her, do they? No! But I can tell them! She's in love with another woman's husband!

AUSTIN. [_Taking her hand._] Hush! I won't allow you to say such things!

JINNY. [_With a disagreeable little laugh._] Oh, won't you? _You'd_ better be careful,--my eyes are opened!

AUSTIN. Yes, and much too wide.

JINNY. A half-blind person would have known there was something between you two. When I came into this room just now, it was in the air--it was in both your faces!

[_She sits on the bench._

AUSTIN. You've worked yourself up to such a pitch you're not responsible for what you're saying!

JINNY. _I_ not _responsible_! What was it you were saying was _so_ "awful" when I came in here? "My God, so awful!"

[_He doesn't answer._

[_Almost hysterical, she rises._

She had told you she loved you! She'd confessed she'd followed you over here!

AUSTIN. Absolutely false, _both_ your suppositions!

JINNY. Oh, of course you'd protect her; you're a gentleman! But if I _thought_ you _knew_ she was coming over--

AUSTIN. Jinny! Jinny! How _can_ you have such a thought?

JINNY. Well, why didn't you tell me when you thought you saw her a little while ago?

AUSTIN. Oh--

JINNY. Oh, it's very easy to say "Oh!" [_Imitating him._] but _why didn't you_?

AUSTIN. I told you I didn't think who it was; I only thought something familiar flashed across my eyes. Jinny darling, this is sheer madness on your part, letting yourself go like this. It has no reason, it has no excuse! Ask your own heart, and your own mind, if in speaking to _me_ as you have, you haven't done me at least an injustice and my love for you a _little_ wrong.

JINNY. Well, I'm sure _she's_ in love with you, anyway.

AUSTIN. No, she isn't! And it's disgraceful of you to say so! I know she isn't--

JINNY. How do you know she isn't?

AUSTIN. There's no question of it. I'm sure of it! You mustn't think, dear, that because _you_ love me, everybody does--you idealize me!

[_Smiling apologetically._

JINNY. Oh, you're so modest you don't see! but I do--on the steamer, in the hotels, everywhere we go, always, all the women admire you awfully! I see it!

AUSTIN. [_Laughing._] What utter nonsense! [_Taking her into his arms._] You've got something in your _eyes_!

JINNY. Only tears!

AUSTIN. No, something else,--something _green_.

JINNY. [_Laughs through her tears._] Somebody's told you my old nickname!

AUSTIN. What?

JINNY. [_Laughs and is a little embarrassed._] The girl with the green eyes.

AUSTIN. Ahem!--

JINNY. Well, I don't care if it is appropriate, I can't help it.

[_Slipping from his arms._

AUSTIN. You must--or it will threaten our happiness if you let yourself be carried away by jealousy for no earthly reason outside of your dear, little imagination, like you have this time--

[_Interrupted._

JINNY. You honestly don't think she cares for you?

AUSTIN. Not a bit!

JINNY. But what was it you were so serious about--what _is_ between you?

AUSTIN. She is in a little trouble, and I happen to know about it.

JINNY. How?

AUSTIN. [_After a second's hesitation._] That you mustn't ask me; it was not from her I knew of it.

JINNY. Truly?

AUSTIN. Truly.

JINNY. I don't care, she hadn't any business to go to you! I should think she'd have gone to a _woman_ instead of a _man_ for sympathy. She's got Mrs. Cullingham!

AUSTIN. She can't go to her, poor girl. Mrs. Cullingham knows nothing about it.

JINNY. Now don't you get too sympathetic--_that's very dangerous_!

AUSTIN. Look out, your imagination is peeping through the keyhole.

[_A moment's pause._

JINNY. [_In a sympathetic tone, the jealousy gone._] What is her trouble, Jack?

AUSTIN. That, dear, I can't tell you now; some day, perhaps, if you want me to, but not now. Only I give you my word of honor, it has nothing to do with you and me--does not touch our life! And I want you to tell me you believe me, and _trust_ me, and won't let yourself be jealous again!

JINNY. I do believe you, and I do trust you, and I will _try_ not to be jealous again!

AUSTIN. That's right.

JINNY. You know that book of De Maupassant's [_They move away together._] I was reading in the train the other day,--about the young girl who killed herself with charcoal fumes when her lover deserted her?

AUSTIN. [_Half laughing._] This is apropos of what, please? I have absolutely _no_ sympathy with such people.

JINNY. In America that girl would have simply turned on the gas.

AUSTIN. You're getting morbid, Jinny!

JINNY. No, I'm not! but if ever--

AUSTIN. [_Interrupting--laughing it off_.] I shall install _electric light_ as soon as we get home!

[_They both laugh._

JINNY. I'm sorry I was so disagreeable to Ruth, but I'll try to make up for it in every way I can.

[_She sits on the bench and he leans over the back toward her._

AUSTIN. There's one other thing, Jinny, I'd like to speak of now. Would you mind giving up the Lakes and going home this week?

JINNY. Going _home_--at once?

AUSTIN. Yes--_Wall Street_ is very uncertain. I'm worried,--I don't mind telling you,--and I want to see Geoffrey about his business.

JINNY. [_Half in earnest._] Jack! You're not running away from _her_, are you?

AUSTIN. Jinny! _After all_ we've said!

JINNY. No! I wasn't in earnest! I'm ready to go. I've seen the Lakes, and whether you are in Italy or in New York, so long as we are together, it's our honeymoon just the same.

AUSTIN. And may it last _all our lives_!

JINNY. Still, I don't mind owning up that leaving Ruth Chester behind here is rather pleasanter! [_She rises quickly with a sudden thought._] _She_ is not going back, too?

AUSTIN. Oh, no, not for a long time. They are over here indefinitely.

JINNY. I've been too horrid and nasty for words this morning, Jack--I'm so sorry.

AUSTIN. It's over and forgotten now.

JINNY. You _do_ forgive me?

AUSTIN. Of course, dear; only I want to say this one thing to you: to suspect unjustly a _true_ love is to insult that love!

JINNY. I didn't really suspect you.

AUSTIN. Of course I know you didn't; this is only by way of a grandfatherly warning! It is possible to insult a true love too often--and love can die--

JINNY. Sh! don't, please, say any more. You have forgiven me, haven't you?

AUSTIN. Yes!

JINNY. Then kiss me!

AUSTIN. [_Smiling._] Here! My dear, some one will see us!

JINNY. No, only Apollo; see, there's no one else about--it's luncheon hour!

AUSTIN. But--

[_Taking her hand._

JINNY. [_Pulling him._] Come along, then, behind the statue. No one will see us there!

[_They are behind the statue a moment and then come around the other side._

JINNY. There! no one saw us, and I'm so _happy_, are you?

AUSTIN. _"So happy!"_

[_JINNY takes his arm and they go to the Left entrance. She stops and looks up at him._

JINNY. Are my eyes _green_ now?

AUSTIN. Now they're _blue_!

JINNY. Hurrah! and I'm going, from now on, to be _so good_, you won't know me.

[_And hugging his arm tight they go out as_--

THE CURTAIN FALLS