Clyde Fitch

“ The curtain rises on the same scene in a dull, cold, early morning light. The lamp has burnt itself out. A tiny ray of sunlight steals through a slip between the curtains. Jinny sits by the table, her arms spread over it and her head on her arms—she is perfectly still. Austin's picture is before her. There is a moment's silence. Voices are heard outside, approaching door, at Right. Gradually what they say is distinguished.
Maggie. No, sir. She hasn't been to bed; I've been to her bedroom—that door's not unlocked.
Tillman. She's been here all night?
Maggie. Yes, sir. ”

“ 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 117 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. ”

“ Geoffrey. We mustn't talk here any more!
Maggie. You look out! If I wasn't so fond of your sister Miss Jinny, and if the old people weren't so good to me, I'd just show you right up here—now!
Geoffrey. I'll buy you off if I can't divorce you!
Maggie. You! Poof!
[Girls' voices are heard from the ballroom.
Geoffrey. Look out—some one's coming!
Maggie. [Going.] You haven't got a red cent; my cheque's always one of your father's! ”

“ 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. Nonsense! Female ballast is no good; masculine ballast is the only kind that's safe if you want to make life's journey in a love balloon. [She turns to Ruth Chester.] Ruth—the trouble with you is, you're too sad lately, and 35 show such a lack of interest. I should think you might be in love, only I haven't been able to find the man. Anyway, if you aren't in love, you must pretend an interest in things. Of course, men's affairs are awfully dull, but they don't like you to talk about them, so it's really very easy. ”

“ Jinny opens the double doors, looks in, and then enters. She is an adorable little human being, pretty, high-strung, temperamental, full of certain feminine fascination that defies analysis, which is partly due to the few faults she possesses. She is, of course, dressed in the conventional wedding-dress, a tulle veil thrown over her face. ”

“ I've explained everything to him—how such a fine, sweet girl 148 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? ”

“ Austin. [Writing.] Dear Ruth. The satisfaction of the visit to Brooklyn prevents me from being disappointed at having missed your telegram till 171 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. ”

“ 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.
153 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! ”

“ Mr. Austin only learned the whole truth when we met that day in Rome. I did not learn till to-day that I was not honestly your brother's wife. I had to be told, because divorce proceedings are to be started at once to break—the other—marriage. [No answer from Jinny.] To spare me, and above all to spare you the knowledge of your brother's sin, your husband has kept Geoffrey's secret from you. You have well repaid him! [She turns again to Austin.] Good-by—I feel to-night I couldn't marry Geoffrey again. He's tumbled so far off his 188 pedestal he has fallen out of my heart. ”

“ 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 95 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.] ”

“ Thaw, dear,—not to everybody,—that would be like slushy weather, but don't keep yourself so continually so far below zero that you won't have time to strike—well—say eighty-five in the shade, when the right bit of masculine sunshine does come along! ”

“ 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? ”

“ Jinny. Not a soul! Come on!
[She is followed in by the four Bridesmaids—nice girls every one of them—and also, very slyly, by Susie, a very modern spoiled child, who sits unobserved out of the way at the back.
Now, my dears, I wish to say good-by all by ourselves so I can make you a little speech! [All laugh gently.] In the first place I want to tell you that there's nothing like marriage! And 29 you must every one of you try it! Really, I was never so happy in my life!
Grace. Must we stand, or may we sit down? ”

“ She sits in the arm-chair, half forced by him.
Jinny. Why did you send for Ruth Chester to come back?
162 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. ”

“ 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.
127 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! ”

“ Tillman. Jack, the first thing I asked about you when I heard that—er—that things were getting this way was, does he smoke? A man who smokes has always that outlet. If things 68 go wrong—go out and smoke a cigar, and when the cigar's finished, ten to one everything's got right, somehow! If you lose your temper, don't speak!—a cigar, and when it's finished, then speak! You'll find the temper all gone up in the smoke! A woman's happiness is safest with a man who smokes. ”

“ Jinny. And isn't Jack—
Mrs. Cullingham. He is! And so are you! In fact I've been telling your mother I don't know how to thank you both. You've asked me to-day to meet the swellest crowd I've ever been in where I was invited, and didn't have to buy tickets, and felt I had a right to say something besides "excuse me," and "I beg your pardon." Of course, I've sat next to them all before in restaurants and at concerts, but this time I felt like the real thing myself, and I shall never forget it! If you or your husband ever want any mining tips, come to me ”

“ He calls a little louder.] Jinny, Jinny darling—do you hear me? [Jinny makes a sort of feeble effort to lift her head, but fails.] Jinny, for God's sake, answer me! I love you Jinny—Jinny! [Very slowly Jinny lifts her 197 head and, with difficulty, she hears as if in a dream; she is dazed, barely alive.] She doesn't answer!
Tillman. See if the key is in the lock.
Austin. No.
Tillman. Get the other keys, Maggie.
Austin. Father! Gas! Don't you smell it?
Tillman. What!
Austin. Gas, I tell you! O God! she's killed herself! Jinny! Jinny! ”

“ 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 94 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.] ”

“ She cries out again weakly, heartbrokenly, "Jack!"—comes back into the room, and throwing herself down on the floor, her head resting on her arms in the 190 arm-chair, she sobs hysterically, wildly, "What have I done! Dear God, what have I done!" as
THE CURTAIN FALLS
191
ACT IV
Scene I
Dawn of the next day. At the rise of the curtain Jinny is by the open window, whose curtains she has thrown aside. The sky is blood-red and streaked with gold the moment before sunrise. Jinny is worn and haggard, with hair dishevelled.
Jinny. [Turning and leaning against the window.] Day at last! ”

“ Austin. I didn't mean that.
Ruth. I lied to my mother that day for the 104 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! ”

“ Tillman, who enter.
Tillman. The carriage is here!
Jinny. I won't be a second—
67 [She goes out Right.
Mrs. Tillman. Where has she gone?
Austin. Up to her brother.
Mrs. Tillman. Her father's been locked up in his study for three hours—he says thinking, but to me his eyes look very suspicious!
[Taking her husband's arm affectionately.
Tillman. [Clears his throat.] Nonsense!
Mrs. Tillman. Well, how many cigars did you smoke?
Tillman. Eight.
Mrs. Tillman. The amount of emotion that a man can soak out of himself with tobacco is wonderful! He uses it just like a sponge! ”

“ 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.
129 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! ”

“ 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!
108 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! ”

“ 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?
116 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.] ”