Chapter 4
(_Three weeks later_)
_The Austins' library; a warm, attractive room, with dark woodwork, and the walls hung in crimson brocade; Dutch marqueterie furniture; blue and white china on the mantel and tops of the book shelves; carbon photographs of pictures by Reynolds, Ronney, and Gainsborough on the wall. There is a double window at the back. A door at Right leads to the hall, and another on the Left side of the room leads to JINNY's own room. MRS. TILLMAN sits at a pianola Right, playing "Tell me, Pretty Maiden"; she stops once in a while, showing that she is unaccustomed to the instrument. JINNY enters from Left, singing as her mother plays._
JINNY. Darling mother!
[_She puts her arms about her and kisses her._
[_They come away from the pianola together, to a big arm-chair._
MRS. TILLMAN. I really must get one of those sewing-machine pianos for your father. I believe even he could play it, and it would be lots of amusement for us.
JINNY. Jack adores it; I gave it to him for an anniversary present.
MRS. TILLMAN. What anniversary?
[_Sitting in the chair._
JINNY. Day before yesterday. The eleventh Tuesday since our marriage. Have you been in town all day? I _am_ glad to see you!
[_She sits on the arm of the chair with her arm about her mother._
MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, and I told your father to meet me here and we'd take the six-thirty train from Long Island City.
JINNY. Jack and I are going to the theatre to-night.
MRS. TILLMAN. I thought they were all closed!
JINNY. Oh, no, there are several musical comedies on,--Jack's favorite form of amusement,--and I've bought the tickets myself for a sort of birthday party.
MRS. TILLMAN. Is it his birthday?
JINNY. No, that's only my excuse!
MRS. TILLMAN. [_Laughing._] Had we dreamed you and Jack were coming home in June, your father and I wouldn't have gone into the country so early.
JINNY. We've been home two weeks and it hasn't been hot yet.
MRS. TILLMAN. And you're still ideally happy aren't you, darling?
JINNY. Yes--
[_She rises and goes to a table near the centre of the room and looks at the titles of several books without realizing what they are._
MRS. TILLMAN. Why, Jinny,--what does that mean?
JINNY. Oh, it's all my horrid disposition!
MRS. TILLMAN. Been seeing green?
JINNY. Um! Um! Once in Rome, and on the steamer, and again since we've been back.
MRS. TILLMAN. Nothing serious?
JINNY. [_Hesitatingly, she turns and faces her mother._] No--but the last time Jack was harder to bring around than before, and he looked at me for fully five minutes without a particle of love in his eyes, and they were almost--_dead_ eyes!
MRS. TILLMAN. What was it all about?
JINNY. Ruth Chester, principally.
MRS. TILLMAN. Why Ruth?
JINNY. Well, the first real scene I made was in Rome in the Vatican. I was jealous of her; I can't explain it all to you--as a matter of fact, it hasn't been all explained to _me_! Something was troubling Ruth that Jack knew, and he said he'd help her.
MRS. TILLMAN. What?
JINNY. That's just it; Jack won't tell me. And the day we sailed from Naples a telegram came, and of course I opened it, and it said, "Trust me, I will do everything you say. Ruth."
MRS. TILLMAN. Why haven't you told me anything of all this before, dear?
JINNY. [_Going back to her mother._] I was ashamed to! Somehow, in the end I always knew I was wrong and had hurt him--hurt him terribly, mother, the man I love better than everything else in the world! Yes, even better than you and father and Geoffrey--all together!
[_In her mother's arms, crying a little._
MRS. TILLMAN. Oh, this curse of jealousy! I was in hopes he was so strong he would help you to overcome it.
JINNY. He does try hard, I can see sometimes; but he hasn't a spark of it in him, and he can't understand it, and I know I'm unreasonable, and before I know it I am saying things I don't know what, and some day he won't forgive them! I'm sure some day he won't!--
[_Breaking down again._
[_She rises and turns away._
MRS. TILLMAN. [_Rising and putting her arms about her._] Come, dear! Now you're getting yourself all unstrung, and that won't do you any good; you've got to fight this battle out, I'm afraid, by yourself, trusting in the deep love of your husband to teach him forbearance. Your father's and my troubles were never very big because we _shared_ the curse, so we knew how to sympathize with each other!
JINNY. What an awful thing it is!
MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, my dear child. Jealousy has no saving grace, and it only destroys what is always most precious to you. Jinny, don't let it destroy _your best_ happiness!
JINNY. Mother, if it _should_, I'd kill myself!
MRS. TILLMAN. [_Shocked, but quite disbelieving her._] My dear!
[_MAGGIE enters Right._
MAGGIE. Mr. Tillman is downstairs, madam.
MRS. TILLMAN. Tell him to come up.
MAGGIE. Yes, madam.
[_She goes out Right._
JINNY. Don't tell father anything before me.
MRS. TILLMAN. I don't know that I shall tell him at all; he would only advise more cigars!
[_TILLMAN enters Right._
[_MRS. TILLMAN sits on the sofa at Left._
TILLMAN. Are you here?
JINNY. [_Going to meet him._] We are, father dear, and your presence _almost_ completes us. [_Kisses him._] I say _almost_, because Jack hasn't come up town yet, and Geoffrey's heartless enough to stay on fishing at Cape Cod!
TILLMAN. No, he isn't; he's back to-day.
[_He sits in the arm-chair at Right._
JINNY. Oh, I do want to see him!
[_Sitting near her father._
TILLMAN. He ought to have been in by now--I met them this morning. He was to lunch with Jack, and he's going to put up for a few days at the University.
JINNY. He must dine with us every night.
TILLMAN. Jinny!-- [_Looking at her._] --You look as if you've been crying!
[_The two WOMEN are embarrassed, and JINNY doesn't reply._
TILLMAN. [_Hurt._] Oh, if you prefer to have secrets from your father, it's all right! _I don't begrudge_ your mother her _first place_ in your affections!
JINNY. Not at all, father; with you and mother there's no first place. She will tell you all about it on the way home! Please, mother.
MRS. TILLMAN. Very well, dear.
TILLMAN. A little "scrap" between you and Jack?
JINNY. Yes, but it's all over!
TILLMAN. Um!-- [_Thinks a second, then taking out his cigar case, he empties it of cigars and hands them to JINNY._] Give your husband these, please, when he comes in!
[_JINNY and her MOTHER exchange a smile._
JINNY. But, father, Jack's got boxes full--
TILLMAN. Never mind; give him those, _from me, with my compliments_!
JINNY. [_Laughing._] Very well!
TILLMAN. How are you and Maggie getting on?
JINNY. Splendidly.
MRS. TILLMAN. Such a nice girl!
JINNY. And wasn't it odd Jack was bitterly opposed to my taking her?
MRS. TILLMAN. My dear, if we hadn't lent her to you for these few weeks, you wouldn't have got anybody decent for so short a time.
TILLMAN. Why didn't Jack want her to come?
JINNY. I don't know, he just didn't want her; and then last week he talked with her in the library for three-quarters of an hour by my watch.
MRS. TILLMAN. Why?
JINNY. Oh, it seems _she_ has troubles, too! All single young women with troubles, of no matter what class, seem to make a bee line for my husband, even if they have to cross the ocean!
TILLMAN. What do you mean?
JINNY. [_Half laughing._] Oh, nothing, but it was about that talk with Maggie that we had our last quarrel.
[_MAGGIE enters Right._
MAGGIE. Mrs. Cullingham.
[_A second's dead silence, the announcement falling like a bombshell._
JINNY. [_Astounded._] _Who?_
[_She rises._
TILLMAN AND MRS. TILLMAN. _Who?_
MAGGIE. Mrs. Cullingham and her son, madam.
JINNY. They're in Europe.
MRS. TILLMAN. Are you sure you're not mistaken, Maggie?
MAGGIE. Oh, yes'm. Even if you _could_ mistake Mrs. Cullingham, you couldn't mistake Mr. Peter!
JINNY. Ask them to please come up, Maggie.
MAGGIE. Yes'm.
[_She goes out Right._
TILLMAN. Why, they only just sailed the other day, didn't they?
MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, and they were supposed to be gone all summer at least, for Ruth Chester's health! What in the world can they have come back for?
JINNY. [_With curious determination._] _That_ is what _I_ intend to find out.
TILLMAN. [_Rising._] We must be going, Susan; we've lost our train as it is.
MRS. TILLMAN. [_Rising._] We can take the seven-two.
[_MAGGIE shows in MRS. CULLINGHAM and PETER. PETER shakes hands with MRS. TILLMAN, then with JINNY, and then with MR. TILLMAN._
[_MRS. CULLINGHAM kisses MRS. TILLMAN and shakes hands with MR. TILLMAN._
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Jinny, you angel, aren't you surprised!
[_Kissing her._
JINNY. Well, rather!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Well, you aren't a bit more surprised than I am. [_A clock strikes six-thirty._] There goes the half hour, Peter; you must take your powder.
PETER. I beg your pardon, mother; it's the tablet now.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Excuse me, dear, I'm so dead tired.
[_Sits on the sofa._
JINNY. [_To Peter._] Will you have some water?
PETER. No, thank you, I've learned now to take them _au naturel_, and without much, if any, inconvenience!
[_Takes his tablet with still a certain amount of difficulty, and sits Right._
MRS. TILLMAN. [_To MRS. CULLINGHAM._] Did you have a bad voyage?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. No, perfectly beautiful!
PETER. [_Reproachfully, and with a final swallow._] Oh, mother!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Except, of course, for poor Peter; he gets worse every trip! He can eat _absolutely nothing_--that is _for long_! But it's the Custom House that's worn me out; I was there from twelve till four.
MRS. TILLMAN. But you wouldn't have had time to buy anything!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Of course not! But I took plenty of new dresses for the entire summer; most of them hadn't been worn, and they were determined to make me pay duty.
JINNY. We had to pay awfully for things! I wanted to try and smuggle, but Jack wouldn't let me!
MR. TILLMAN. I'm afraid _we_ must go!
[_ALL rise._
MRS. CULLINGHAM. What do you think the Inspector had the impudence to ask me finally,--if I wanted to bring the dresses in as theatrical properties!
[_They laugh._
MRS. TILLMAN. You must have some _gorgeous_ frocks!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh, there are some _paillettes_! But who do you suppose he took me for--Sarah Bernhardt!
TILLMAN. [_Looking at his watch._] I don't wish to interrupt this vital political conversation, but, Susan, if you don't want to miss the seven-two train, too--!
MRS. TILLMAN. [_Rising._] Oh, no, we mustn't do that. Good-by. [_To MRS. CULLINGHAM, shaking hands._] It's nice to see you again, anyway. Is Ruth better?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. I'm sorry to say--I don't think she is--good-by.
[_To MR. TILLMAN, who says good-by_--_general good-bys._
MRS. TILLMAN. [_To JINNY._] You want me to tell your father?
JINNY. Yes, it's better; it does make him jealous if he thinks I tell you things and keep secrets from him.
TILLMAN. Good-by, Peter.
MRS. TILLMAN. Good-by, Peter.
PETER. By-by.
[_MR. and MRS. TILLMAN quickly go out Right, JINNY going to the door with them._
JINNY. [_Coming back from doorway._] Now do tell me what it means. I thought you were abroad indefinitely, or for the summer at least.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. So did I! I'm just as surprised to be here as you _seem to be_! [_They sit down near each other._] Didn't you really know we were coming?
JINNY. No! How should I?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. I don't know--I thought--
[_She hesitates, embarrassed._
[_After a pause._
JINNY. What did you think?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Nothing, except that you must know we were coming home.
JINNY. Why--that _I_ must?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. You mustn't put me into a corner like that!
JINNY. How do you mean "corner"? How did you happen to come home like this?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Ruth suddenly got a cable--she didn't tell me from whom--but she said she must go home at once.
JINNY. But her mother's never been better!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Carelessly._] The cable wasn't from her mother.
JINNY. Oh, then, you know who it was from? [_No answer._] Oh, I see now why you thought I ought to know about it; the cable was from _Jack_, _wasn't it_?
MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Relieved._] Yes.
JINNY. Oh, it was!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. I looked at it when she was out of the room; of course, it was sort of by accident-- [_Very much embarrassed._] --that is, I just happened to see--O dear, there! You know what I mean; it was dreadful of me, but I couldn't help it.
JINNY. [_In a strained voice._] Jack and Ruth are very good friends and he looks after some of her affairs. You know having no man in the family complicates things.
PETER. Oh! I say!
[_Standing up, suddenly._
MRS. CULLINGHAM. What _is it_, dear?
PETER. I believe I haven't got my before-dinner tabs.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh, look carefully!
PETER. [_He looks in his right-hand pocket, takes out a bottle._] Soda mints! [_From his left-hand pocket a box._] Alkali powders! [_From third pocket a bottle._] Charcoal tablets! [_From fourth pocket another bottle._] Dr. Man's Positive Cure! [_From fifth pocket a box._] Bicarbonate soda!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. There's your other side pocket!
PETER. That's my saccharine [_Showing bottle._] and my lithia tabs. [_Showing another bottle._] We'll have to go, mother; I've left them home!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. We must go, anyway, my dear.
[_Rising._
[_JINNY also rises._
PETER. [_Suddenly claps his hand behind him and speaks joyfully._] No, we needn't go after all; I forgot my hip pocket. Here they are!
[_Bringing them out._
MRS. CULLINGHAM. We must go all the same! [_To JINNY._] Sometimes I think he takes too much medicine stuff!
JINNY. I should think so! Peter, you ought to diet.
PETER. I can't! I've tried, and I lose my appetite right away!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Good-by, dear. How long will you be in town?
JINNY. I don't know--several weeks, I imagine. Jack came home on some business, you know, and I don't think it's settled yet. Good-by.
[_To PETER._
PETER. Good-by. You know you mustn't drink water with your meals; that's the great thing. So I drink only champagne.
[_He goes out Right._
MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Waits and speaks to JINNY with real feeling._] I'm awfully ashamed of myself, and I hope I haven't made any trouble or fuss with my meddling. Don't let me!
JINNY. No, of course not.
[_With a strained smile._
MRS. CULLINGHAM. I wish I could believe you.
JINNY. Well, _do_.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Good-by.
[_She goes out Right._
JINNY. Good-by. Where's that telegram that came for him a little while ago? [_Going to the desk at Right, and finding the telegram._] Of course it's from her, saying that she's arrived. That's the trouble with telegrams; the address doesn't give the handwriting away. She must have sent it from the dock! Couldn't even wait till she was home! [_She walks to the window and stands there a moment, then comes back, looking at her watch._] Nearly seven already, and no sign of him, and we must dress and dine--huh! I think I might as well tear up my theatre tickets! [_She paces up and down the room, stopping now and then with each new thought that comes to her._] I wonder if he went down there to meet her--he must have known the boat; if he cabled her to come back, she must have cabled an answer and what boat she'd take! But no other telegram has come for Jack here to my knowledge--oh! of course, what am I thinking of, she sent _that one_ to _his office_ to-day; she was afraid he might have left before this one could get there, so she risked it here. Good Heavens! why am I maudling on like this to myself out loud? It's really nothing--Jack will _explain_ once more that he _can't_ explain, but that Ruth has "troubles," and I'll believe him again! But I won't! He promised me she should stay over there! [_Looks at her watch again._] He's there, with her! _Nothing ever_ kept him half as late down town as this! What a little fool I am!
[_GEOFFREY enters suddenly Right._
JINNY. [_Cries out, joyfully._] Geoffrey! [_And rushing to him, embraces him._] You brute, you, not to come straight back to New York when you heard I was home! You dear old darling, you!
GEOFFREY. I couldn't, old girl; there were reasons--I don't have to tell you I wanted to.
JINNY. I don't know! Was there a pretty girl up there, Geof? I'm sure I shouldn't think her pretty if you were in love with her. I believe I shall be awfully jealous of your wife when you get one!
GEOFFREY. Rubbish! Hasn't Jack come back yet?
JINNY. "Come back" from where?
GEOFFREY. Brooklyn.
JINNY. Brooklyn! Why, he told me--what did he go there for?
GEOFFREY. [_Embarrassed._] I don't know if you don't--
JINNY. You _do_!!
GEOFFREY. No--really--I--
JINNY. Oh, it's something to be concealed, then?
GEOFFREY. Hang it, Jinny! drop the subject. I thought he said he was going to Brooklyn; probably I was mistaken.
JINNY. [_Satirically._] One is so apt to think just casually that every one's going to Brooklyn! [_Looks at her watch._] Of course it's Brooklyn. [_Goes and looks at the telegram; turns._] So you're going back on _me_, too, are you? You're going to _protect Jack_ at _my_ expense!
[_AUSTIN enters Right._
AUSTIN. [_Absorbed._] Good evening, Jinny dear.
JINNY. It's after seven!
AUSTIN. [_Pleasantly._] Is it? Have you been waiting long, Geoffrey?
GEOFFREY. No, I've only just now come in.
JINNY. It's _I_ who have done the waiting!
AUSTIN. I'm sorry, but it couldn't be helped.
JINNY. You didn't tell me you were going to Brooklyn.
AUSTIN. [_After a quick, sharp look at Geoffrey, who shakes his head once emphatically._] It must have escaped my mind.
JINNY. That's very likely! Going to Brooklyn's the sort of thing one talks about and dreads for days.
AUSTIN. Well, Jinny, that will bear postponement, and my conversation with Geoffrey won't; will you please leave us together here for a while?
JINNY. And what about the theatre?
AUSTIN. What theatre?
JINNY. Oh, you've _forgotten_ entirely my little birthday party! Thanks!
AUSTIN. Oh, Jinny! I _did_! Forgive me! I'm awfully sorry! I've got a lot on my mind to-day.
[_Tries to put his arms about her and kiss her. She pushes herself away from him, refusing to let him kiss her._
JINNY. Yes--I know you have-- [_At door Left._] --I'll leave you two to your confidences. You can trust Geof; he just now refused to betray you.
[_AUSTIN only looks at her fixedly, seriously. She looks back at him with bravado. Then she deliberately crosses the room, gets the cable, and recrosses with it and goes out Left._
AUSTIN. Poor Jinny! [_Turning to GEOFFREY._] and that, too, lies largely on your already overcrowded shoulders.
GEOFFREY. [_Breaking down._] I know! I know!
AUSTIN. [_Sitting in the corner of the sofa._] Here, don't cry! You've got to be strong now, and you've no use nor time for crying. I've had another long interview with the Brooklyn minister.
GEOFFREY. Yes?--
AUSTIN. [_Drawing a chair near to him and sitting._] Well, of course we both know that he's doing wrong to keep silent, but he will. He wishes I hadn't told him, because he thinks he'd never have noticed your divorce from Maggie when it was granted--nor remembered your name if he had seen it in the papers.
GEOFFREY. That's what I _told_ you!
AUSTIN. _You_ only argued that for fear I'd insist on _your_ going to this minister yourself. But in the bottom of your heart you know it was a risk we couldn't afford to run. I've explained everything to him--how such a fine, sweet girl would suffer if he did expose you, and I gave him my word you would be remarried to Ruth at once after the divorce. Of course we both know it's wrong, but we both hope the end justifies the means that removes difficulty number two.
GEOFFREY. You're sure about Maggie?
AUSTIN. She's signed a paper; she realizes you'll never live with her, and--it's pathetic--she loves you--that girl, too--so much as to give you your freedom--Good Lord! what is it about you weak men that wins women so? What is it in _you_ that has made two women love _you_ to such a self-sacrificing extent?
GEOFFREY. [_Half tragic, half comic laugh._] I give it up!
AUSTIN. [_Bitterly._] So do I. Well, Maggie is to have six hundred dollars a year.
GEOFFREY. Where'll I get it?
AUSTIN. We'll talk about that when the time comes. [_He rises._] _Now_ the most important, the most painful, task of all must be done and _you_ must do it. _Not I this time--you!_
GEOFFREY. [_Looking up, frightened._] What?
AUSTIN. Ruth Chester landed this morning.
GEOFFREY. [_Starting up._] Impossible!
[_Rising._
AUSTIN. The moment Maggie signed my paper I cabled Miss Chester to return. You can't go out west and institute proceedings for divorce without her _knowing the whole truth from you_ first! You don't want her to find it out from the newspapers, do you?
GEOFFREY. And you want _me_ to tell her?
AUSTIN. _To-day._ And to-morrow you start west!
GEOFFREY. [_Facing AUSTIN._] I _won't_ tell her!
AUSTIN. [_Calmly._] You've got to!
Geoffrey. I'd rather shoot myself; do you understand me--I'd rather shoot myself!
AUSTIN. That's nothing! That would be decidedly the _easiest_ course out of it, _and_ the most _cowardly_.
GEOFFREY. She'll hate me! She'll loathe me! How could she help it at first! But just after a little, if I weren't there, the love she has for me might move her somehow or other--and by degrees perhaps--to forgive--
AUSTIN. I don't deny that you will have to go through a terrible degradation with her--but that is nothing compared with what you deserve. If _you_ tell her, at least the humiliation is secret, locked there between you two, and no one else in the world can ever know what happens; _but_ if you send some one else, and no matter who,--_any one_ else but you _is_ an outsider,--you ask her to make a spectacle of her humiliation, to let a third in as witness to the relations and emotions between you two! It's insulting her _again_! Don't you _see_?
[_A pause._
GEOFFREY. Yes, I see! My God! I _must_ tell her myself.
AUSTIN. That's right, don't waver, make up your mind and do it--Come!
[_Urging him up._
GEOFFREY. [_Hesitates a moment._] And Jinny?
AUSTIN. Oh, she'll come round all right; she always does.
GEOFFREY. And she doesn't suspect?
AUSTIN. Not the slightest.
[_A pause._
GEOFFREY. Need she?
AUSTIN. The worst? No, _never_!
GEOFFREY. [_He rises, with new encouragement._] You'll give me your word?
AUSTIN. Yes. [_Shakes his hand._] I know how much she loves you; _I_ wouldn't have her know anything. It's made us some ugly scenes, but they soon pass, and when you are once out of your trouble for good, we'll have no excuse, I'm sure, for any more!
GEOFFREY. Then I shall go to bed to-night with the respect still of at least two women who are dear to me, my mother and Jinny, even if I lose the respect and love of the one woman who is dearer! Only think, Jack, how I've got to stand up there--never mind about myself--and make _her suffer tortures_! Good-by. God give me courage to do the heart-breaking thing I must do.
AUSTIN. I am sure the one hope you have of forgiveness is in your manliness of going to her as you are doing and telling her yourself _all_ the truth!
GEOFFREY. And that, like everything else, I owe to you.
AUSTIN. No, to _Jinny_! Good luck!
[_He shakes GEOFFREY'S hand and GEOFFREY goes out Right._
AUSTIN. [_Goes to the door Left, opens it, and calls to JINNY, in the next room._] Jinny, Geoffrey's gone,--what are you doing?
JINNY. [_Answers in a very little staccato voice._] Waiting till you should have the leisure to receive me!
AUSTIN. Come along!
[_Leaves the doorway._
[_JINNY enters Left and stands in the doorway._
JINNY. [_With affected nonchalance._] I didn't care to go downstairs for dinner, so I have had a tray up here. Maggie brought up something for you, too; would you like it now?
AUSTIN. [_Ignoring purposely her mood and manner._] I shouldn't mind! I do feel a little hungry.
[_He sits in the arm-chair._
JINNY. [_Speaks off through the doorway Left._] Bring in the tray for Mr. Austin, Maggie.
MAGGIE. [_Off stage._] Yes'm.
[_JINNY pulls forward a little tea table beside his chair. Her whole manner must be one of slow, dragging carelessness, like the calm before a storm. Her expression must be hard. She carries the telegram still unopened, and on top of it the theatre tickets torn into pieces._
[_MAGGIE brings in the tray, puts it on the table, and goes out Right. On the tray are chops, peas, some whiskey, a syphon, a roll, etc._
AUSTIN. [_Sits down quickly and with a show of eagerness._] Ah!
[_Begins to eat as if he were hungry and enjoyed it._
[_JINNY sits on the sofa at his Left, and looks at him,--AUSTIN is of course conscious of JINNY'S mood, but pretends not to notice it._
AUSTIN. [_After a silence during which he eats._] I say I _am_ hungry! And these chops _are_ very good, aren't they?
[_No answer._
I'll tell you what it is, Jinny! Of course travelling is great sport and all the rest of it, but after all one does get tired of hotels, and to quote a somewhat familiar refrain, "There's no place like home."
[_No answer._
Have you a headache, Jinny?
JINNY. [_Very short._] No.
AUSTIN. That's a good thing, and I hope you are not as disappointed as I am about the theatre.
JINNY. [_Half laughs._] Humph!
AUSTIN. I'll celebrate _your_ birthday to-morrow and take _you_.
JINNY. [_Quickly._] _Why_ did you go to Brooklyn?
AUSTIN. On the private business of some one else.
JINNY. [_With all her nerves tied tight._] That's the best answer you will give me?
AUSTIN. My dear girl, it's the only answer I _can_ give you.
JINNY. When you are through I have something for you!
AUSTIN. What?
JINNY. I'll give it to you when you have finished.
AUSTIN. I'm ready. [_He rises. JINNY rises too, and gives him the telegram with the torn tickets on top, and then rings the bell, at Right._] What are these torn papers?
JINNY. Our theatre tickets!
[_He looks at her._
AUSTIN. And when did this telegram come?
JINNY. This afternoon.
AUSTIN. Why didn't I get it when I came in?
JINNY. [_Bitingly._] I kept it to have the _pleasure_ of giving it to you myself; it's from Ruth Chester.
AUSTIN. How do you know?
JINNY. Oh, I haven't opened it! But I know! When I held it in my hand it burnt my fingers! [_MAGGIE enters Right._] Take away the tray, please, Maggie.
MAGGIE. Yes'm.
[_She leaves the room with the tray._
[_JINNY replaces the small table carelessly, almost roughly._
[_AUSTIN opens and reads the telegram; there is a second's pause._
JINNY. May I read it?
AUSTIN. [_After a moment's hesitation._] Yes, if you wish.
[_Not handing it to her._
JINNY. I _do_!
AUSTIN. [_Reaches over and hands her the telegram; he speaks quietly._] When you behave like this it's impossible for me to feel the same toward you.
JINNY. And how do you think I feel when I read this?
[_Reads it, satirically, bitterly._
"Arrived safely; please let me see you before the day goes. Ruth." "_Ruth_" if you please!
AUSTIN. [_Standing over JINNY._] I want you to be careful to-night. I want you to control yourself. I've been through a great deal to-day, and if you make me angry God knows what I mightn't say and _do_!
JINNY. And _I've_ been through a great deal _for many a day now_, and I want the truth about this at last! It's all very well for you to spare her by not telling me what this _mysterious_ trouble is about which you've been hoodwinking me ever since we were married, but _now_ you've got to choose between sparing _her_ and sparing _me_!
[_She sits determinedly._
AUSTIN. Is this your answer to me when I beg you to be very careful to-night to control yourself?
JINNY. It's your turn to be careful! What did you marry me for if you were in love with Ruth?
AUSTIN. _Jinny!_
JINNY. [_A little frightened, to excuse herself._] You gave me your word of honor she would stay abroad indefinitely.
AUSTIN. Nonsense! I said I understood she was going to stay some time--indefinitely.
JINNY. It's the same thing, and here she is back practically the moment we are!
AUSTIN. I can't control Miss Chester's movements--I couldn't foresee when she would come back. In Rome she told me she would stay on.
JINNY. [_Rising and facing him._] Ah! that's what I wanted to see, if you really _would lie_ to me!
AUSTIN. What do you mean?
JINNY. [_Beside herself._] Liar! [_He only looks at her, with his face hard and set; she is insane with jealousy for the moment._] _You sent_ for Ruth to come back.
AUSTIN. _And_ if _I did_?
JINNY. You tried to deceive me about it. And if you'll tell me a lie about one thing, you'll tell me a lie about another, and I don't believe one word of all your explanations about the intrigue between you and Ruth Chester!
AUSTIN. [_Taking her two hands._] Sit down!
[_She sits in the arm-chair, half forced by him._
JINNY. _Why_ did you send for Ruth Chester to come back?
AUSTIN. I have told you before, I am trying to help Miss Chester.
JINNY. "_Ruth!_"
AUSTIN. I am trying to help her in a great and serious trouble.
JINNY. Why did you send for her to come back? What's the trouble?
AUSTIN. I've told you before I can't tell you.
JINNY. You daren't tell me, and you haven't even the face to tell another lie about it!
AUSTIN. If you say another word, I shall _hate_ you! If you _won't_ control _yourself_, I must make you, as well as keep my own sane balance. You have insulted my love for you to-night as you've never done before; you've struck at my own ideal of _you_; you've almost done, in a word, what I warned you you might do--_kill_ the love I have for you!
JINNY. [_Frightened._] Jack!
AUSTIN. I mean what I say!
JINNY. [_In tears._] That--that you--you don't love me?
AUSTIN. That is not what I said, but I tell you now that since I first began to care for you, never have I loved you so little as I do to-night.
JINNY. [_With an effort at angry justification._] And suppose I tell you it is your own fault, because you haven't treated me--
AUSTIN. [_Interrupting her._] Like a _child_, instead of a _woman_!
JINNY. No, because you've kept part of yourself from me, and that part you've given--
AUSTIN. For God's sake, stop! [_A pause--JINNY is now thoroughly frightened; slowly she comes to her senses._] Do you _want_ a rupture for good between us? [_No answer._] Can't you see what I tell you is true? That I can't bear any more to-night? That if you keep on you will rob _me_ of every bit of love I have for you, just as you've already robbed me of the woman I thought you were?
JINNY. "Already!" No, no, Jack, don't say that. Oh, what have I done!
[_She cries._
AUSTIN. You've done something very serious, and before you do more-- [_Speaking hardly._] --I think we'd better not stay in this evening; it would be wiser for both of us if we went out somewhere.
JINNY. No, I couldn't go out feeling this way! I've hurt you, hurt you terribly! Oh, why do I do it? Why can't I help myself?
AUSTIN. I think one more scene to-night would finish things for us. I _warn_ you of that, Jinny--
[_He goes to the desk and sits at it, looking blankly before him. She comes slowly, almost timidly, behind his chair._
JINNY. No, don't say it! don't say it! Try to forgive me--oh, Jack, I hate myself, and I'm so ashamed of myself! I know I've disappointed you awfully, awfully! You _did_ idealize me; I knew it when you married me, but I told you then I wasn't worth your loving me, didn't I? I never pretended to be worthy of you. I always knew I wasn't.
AUSTIN. Hush!
JINNY. It's true! it's only too awfully true. But do you remember how you answered me then when I told you I wasn't worth your loving me?
AUSTIN. [_Coldly and without looking at her._] No.
JINNY. You took me in your arms and held me so I couldn't have got away if I'd wanted to--which I didn't--and stopped the words on my lips with your _kisses_. [_Her throat fills. He makes no reply. She goes on very pathetically._] _How I wish_ you'd answer me that way now!
AUSTIN. Whose fault is it?
JINNY. Oh, mine! _mine_! I know it. _You_ don't know it one-half so well as I! I love you better than anything in the world, love everything of you--the turn of your head, the blessed touch of your hand, the smallest word that comes from your dear lips--the thoughts that your forehead hides, but which my heart guesses when I'm sane! And yet, try as hard as I can, these mad fits take hold of me, and although I'd willingly _die_ to save you _pain_, still _I_, _I_ myself, hurt and wound you past all bearing! It doesn't make any difference that _I_ suffer too! _I ought_ to! I deserve to--you _don't_! Oh, no! I know I'm a disappointment and a failure!
[_Her eyes fill up with tears and her voice breaks._
AUSTIN. [_He turns to her._] No, Jinny, not so bad as that, only I thought you were _big_--and you're _so little_, oh, _so small_!
JINNY. Yes, it's true; I'm small--I'm _small_! Oh, I'd like to be big, too! I want to be noble and strong, but I'm not--I'm as weak as water--only it's _boiling_ water! I want to be Brunhilde, and I'm only Frou Frou! Yes, I'm little; but I _love_ you--_I love you!_
[_She sinks on to a stool beside him. A moment's pause._
[_With a trembling voice._
You don't mind my sitting here?
AUSTIN. No--
[_Very quietly, he places his arm about her neck, his hand on her shoulder. She quickly steals up her hand to take his, and leaning her head over it, kisses his hand. He draws it away and kisses her hair._
JINNY. [_Timidly, very softly._] You forgive me?
AUSTIN. [_With a long sigh._] Yes.
JINNY. [_Bursting into tears and burying her face upon his knees._] Thank you--thank you--I know I don't deserve it--I don't deserve it--I don't deserve it!
AUSTIN. [_Softly._] Sh!--
[_JINNY half turns and looks up at him._
JINNY. [_Very, very quietly._] You forgive me--but still--yes, I see it in your face, you don't love me the same. You look so tired, dear.
AUSTIN. [_Also very quietly._] I am, Jinny.
JINNY. And--happy?
AUSTIN. I'm _not_ quite happy.
JINNY. I wish I could make you so--make you love me the old way. You used to smile a little when you looked at me--Jack, you don't any more. But I mean to make you to-night, if I can, and to make you love me as much as ever you did.
AUSTIN. Good luck, dear.
JINNY. [_Brightening._] What time is it?
AUSTIN. [_Looking at his watch._] Nearly nine.
JINNY. I suppose it is too late for me to dress and for us to go to the theatre?
AUSTIN. Oh, yes,--and I'm too tired.
JINNY. [_Triumphantly._] Well, then, you shall have your theatre at home! If Mahomet won't go to the mountain, the mountain must go to your lordship!
AUSTIN. I don't understand!
JINNY. Well, just wait-- [_She blows her nose._] --till I bathe my face and eyes a little; I feel rather bleary! [_Starting to go, she stops and turns._] Good-by?
[_Questioningly._
AUSTIN. [_Quietly._] Good-by.
JINNY. [_Who wanted him to call her to him and kiss her._] Oh, very well! but I'll _make_ you smile yet and _kiss_ me of your own accord to-night--you'll see!
[_She goes out Left._
[_She is heard singing in her room. AUSTIN goes to the desk and after a long sigh he begins to write._]
AUSTIN. [_Writing._] Dear Ruth. The satisfaction of the visit to Brooklyn prevents me from being disappointed at having missed your telegram till too late to go to your house to-night. My heart aches for the blow you must have this evening, but please God you will bear it bravely. The man who loves you is not bad, but he has been weak. However, I feel once he can shake off the burden of his present marriage, you will never have cause to complain of him again. And if your future happiness lies truly in his hands, it will be safe there.
JINNY. [_Calls from her room._] Are you ready?
AUSTIN. Yes.
[_He stops writing._
JINNY. In your orchestra chair?
AUSTIN. Yes.
JINNY. What will you have, tragedy or comedy?
AUSTIN. [_Smiling._] Shall we begin with tragedy?
JINNY. All right.
AUSTIN. [_Continues to write._] So far I have been able to keep Jinny in absolute ignorance, but I fear the blow must fall upon her soon, and I dread to think of what she, too, will suffer. Help me to keep it from her as long as we can, won't you?
[_JINNY comes back; she has changed her dress to a loose negligée gown, with a red turban on her head; she brings two sheets with her._
JINNY. Excuse me one minute while I set the stage! [_Moving toward each other the big arm-chair and the sofa, she covers them with the sheets. AUSTIN turns from his letter on the desk, to watch._] Uncle Tom's Cabin,