Act III
Eight months later. Georgiana’s room, an octagonal room with dark panel walnut woodwork and panels of yellow brocade, with furniture to match. All in the simplest style of Louis XV. There is a fireplace on the Left, and doors Right and Left. Two windows at the back. At right of the Centre is a very large dressing table covered with massive silver toilet articles, a big mirror, candelabra, etc., and a silver-framed, photograph of Dick Coleman. There is a low bench before the table, tables and chairs about the room, and a most comfortable, roomy sofa, on the Left, piled with embroidered pillows. It is after seven and the lamps are lit. Steven enters from Left and sits on the sofa. He is haggard, his clothes mussed, his linen rumpled and soiled. He is painfully nervous and agitated; he cannot keep still; as soon as he sits down he gets up; he goes from one place in the room to another, taking up a picture without looking at it, sitting down and getting up again. Twice he half whispers, half groans, “Good God!” He takes out a pistol from his pocket, looks at it, and puts it away again as Lizzie enters Right.
Lizzie. Miss Carley says she’ll be in as soon as she can.
Steven. [Rising and going to the dressing table.] Is she dressing for the ball now?
Lizzie. No, sir, she’s wearing a tea gown for dinner; it’ll be a grand sight, the ball, sir!
Steven. I suppose so.
Lizzie. Pity we couldn’t ’ave got the Grand Duke here, sir, to dinner.
Steven. [Moving about.] We couldn’t afford to entertain a Russian prince, Lizzie,—don’t tell your mistress,—but I’ve been speculating again and we’re hard up.
Lizzie. Oh, I am so sorry, sir—I know how to sympathize with you, though we did get our money back! Perhaps you’ll get yours.
Steven. How about you and Moles?
[Comes to Lizzie.
Lizzie. Well, sir, last Tuesday we counted up, we’re about two years off, or fourteen hundred dollars distance, so to speak. We’ve calculated then we could marry and settle down if we’d be satisfied with two rooms and no children.
[There is a knock on door Left. Yes? [Going to the door, opens it.] Oh, come in, sir. [Moves away.] Mr. Carley is here.
Coast. [Entering.] Where’s Miss Georgiana?
Lizzie. She’s dressing, sir. She’ll be down in five or ten minutes.
[Goes out Right.
Coast. How are you?
[The two men nod a surly greeting.
Steven. I’ve been looking for you all afternoon!
Coast. Didn’t you know I was coming here and going with your folks to the ball?
Steven. I forgot!
[After a pause, both men look at each other.
Well, Sam, I’m done! I’m done for good this time!
Coast. Sorry, but you can’t blame me.
[He sits in an arm-chair near the sofa.
Steven. I do. You told me you were going into this last business, but you didn’t tell me you were going to get right out again.
Coast. ’Twasn’t my business to tell you that—I didn’t advise you to go in!
Steven. No, but you put me up to it all the same!
Coast. Not a bit! The only time I advised you was some months ago, when you’d just lost Louise’s money,—then I put you on to something, so you shouldn’t lose Georgiana’s. Did you win?
Steven. Yes, and broke my word to Georgiana.
Coast. Well, that’s her and your business, but it let me out! From that time on you were on your own hook.
Steven. You were always throwing out hints that you meant me to take.
Coast. Listen. [Rises and goes to Steven.] You can’t prove that!
Steven. You know you led me into it, you know you did. You tempted me in the first place to break my word of honor to my sister. Whether you meant to or not, you did it, damn you—and you’re a rich man, you’ve got millions, and can help me out! Will you?
Coast. [Quietly.] No.
[Moves a little away toward the Left.
Steve. You’re my wife’s own cousin, and she’s a pauper and through no fault of her own. Will you help me for her sake?
Coast. [Still quietly.] No.
Steven. You’re in love with my sister, and she’s not got a cent of her own to-night through me. Will you help me for her sake?
Coast. [Still quietly.] No!
Steven. [Going to him.] No?
Coast. No!
[Strong.
Steven. Then damn you for a dirty blackguard!
Coast. [Laughs.] That’s pretty talk; I guess you got that from me too!
Steven. [Doggedly.] I’ll do more than talk!
[Turns away and goes up stage.
Coast. What?
Steven. Wait and see.
Coast. Listen! if one thing happens, I’ll help you.
Steven. [Turning.] You mean Georgiana!
Coast. Yes, if she’ll marry me, I’ll make up to you every damn cent of hers you’ve got rid of.
Steven. And if she won’t?
Coast. I’ll make up every penny of Louise’s you’ve lost, if Georgiana’ll marry me. Listen—[Sam puts his arm around Steven and brings him down to the sofa and they sit.] she loves you, you’re the kind that always has influence with women; use yours for me, Steve, it’ll be worth your while.
Steven. [Half laughs.] You want me to try and persuade her to marry you against her own desire even?
Coast. That’s the figure.
Steven. When I know you’re, in your way, just as dishonorable a man as I am, and hard and heartless, [Steve rises.] I wouldn’t risk my sister’s happiness with you, if it would save me twice over. Even if she loved you, I’d say what I could against it.
Coast. [Quick.] She’ll never know you broke your word to her if I help you.
Steven. Yes, she will, because I mean to tell her to-night.
Coast. All right!
Steven. That’s what I’ve come for, to make a clean breast of everything.
Coast. You’re a damned fool! [He rises and moves away.] However, each way plays more or less into my hands.
Georgiana. [Outside of door Right.] If you are telling secrets, look out—I’m coming!
Coast. Come on!
[Georgiana comes in, dressed in graceful negligée tea gown.
Georgiana. Good evening, Sam! Steve, you’re not dressed yet?
Steven. I forgot about the ball.
Georgiana. I can tell you one person who hasn’t, and that’s mother!
Coast. [Laughing.] Is she going to be corking?
Georgiana. [Sitting in the arm-chair by the sofa.] If the Grand Duke were a bachelor and mother had designs upon him, she couldn’t possibly take more pains! She’s going to be beyond all words. She’s got every jewel she owns and can borrow draped about her, till she looks like Tiffany’s exhibit at the St. Louis Fair. And as for her hair, she’s had Bella Shindle working on it all afternoon, till it’s the Titianest Titian that ever flamed on human head!
Coast. Sounds great!
[Sitting on the bench. Steven sits on the sofa.
Georgiana. Wait! She’s built her tiara up with a breastpin and an aigrette off my winter hat, and it was all I could do to keep her from wearing the three feathers in which she was presented to the Queen in A.D. ’73.
[They all laugh good-naturedly.
Coast. Aunt Laura’s a corker!
Georgiana. Well, no one will miss her! She’ll get the Grand Duke’s eye if no one else does! I tell her she’ll go through the ballroom like a search-light!
Coast. Is she all dressed now?
Georgiana. Not yet. I’m judging by her dress rehearsal! I left her in a state of terrible indecision as to whether she should arch her eyebrows “just a little” with a burnt match!
[All laugh again good-naturedly.
Coast. Smart old girl!
Georgiana. She’s all the happier for being silly, and she’s a good soul and does her best! What’s your news, Steve?
[Turning to Steven.
Steven. Sam, would you mind?
[Motions to Coast to leave the room.
Coast. Oh, no! [Rises.] See you later! I’ll go and take a squint at auntie.
[He goes out Right.
Georgiana. Steve, you look troubled—what’s gone wrong?
[She goes to Steven on the sofa and sits beside him.
Steven. I have!
Georgiana. How do you mean? You and Louise haven’t quarrelled?
Steven. If it was only that!
Georgiana. What then?
Steven. I’ve gone wrong, I tell you, all wrong.
Georgiana. How? In what way, Steve?
Steven. Your money’s lost, it’s all lost.
[Georgiana rises. A pause.
Georgiana. How do you mean?
Steven. And that isn’t the worst of it, either. I’ve broken my word to you! I know I’ve killed your faith in me. I’ve lost faith in myself.
Georgiana. [Still standing, very strong.] Steve!
Steven. I’ve speculated!
Georgiana. No, Steve!
Steven. [Rises and goes to the mantel.] Yes, I’ve been speculating since the very day I said I wouldn’t. I won a lot at first, and of course I thought I’d get all back; and then, of course, what I did get back was my old cursed luck!
Georgiana. Oh, Steve! And I believed in you so thoroughly, I never had a doubt!
Steven. I know it! I know it! I’m rotten all through, Georgy. [Bursting into tears.] I’m not worth being forgiven—[He falls on his knees, in a paroxysm of sobs and tears.] I’m rotten! Oh—I’m rotten—
[He sobs uncontrollably.
[Georgiana watches him a little while in silence. Then she goes to him and puts her hand on his shoulder.
Georgiana. Steve!
Steven. [Sobbing.] Yes!
Georgiana. I forgive you!
Steven. No! No!
Georgiana. And I’ll trust you again if I have a chance.
Steven. [Looking up.] Georgy, what do you mean?
[Beginning to control his sobs.
Georgiana. I mean, though it’s been a pretty big blow, my faith in you isn’t altogether gone yet.
Steven. Oh, I can’t bear it! I can’t bear it! But you don’t mean it! No, you can’t mean it! How could you? Forgive me? Trust me again? No, no! You couldn’t—it’s all over! I’ve thrown away my own money first, then my wife’s and her mother’s—that ought to have been enough,—but I had to go and break my word of honor to you, and lose every penny of yours! There’s no excuse for me, nor reason to forgive.
Georgiana. [After a moment, very quietly, with her eyes filling.] There’s love, Steve!
Steven. Not for a man like me. I’m not worth it. [He rises.] Not deserving it! There’s only one thing for such as me, and that is to end it all with a bullet.
Georgiana. Now you’re talking wildly!
Steven. [In a lowered voice.] No, Georgy, I mean it! It’s better for all of you to have me out of the way; I tried to do it to-day—only, I was afraid!
Georgiana. That would be worse than anything you have done yet. That I would never forgive—anything but that!
[She goes to him.
Steven. But the shame of my life now, the degradation, the rot of it!
[A moment’s pause.
Georgiana. [The idea comes to her.] Steve, I told you I’d trust you again if I had the chance! Here is the first one, and I take it! Promise me you’ll never again even think of taking your life.
Steven. What’s the good of my promising?
Georgiana. If you tell me, I’ll believe you.
[A short pause.
[Steven, not looking at her, puts his hand in the pocket where the pistol is, then takes his hand away, still not looking at her.
Look me straight in the face, Steve, and say, “I promise.”
[He hesitates only a moment, and then does so.
Steven. I promise.
[He turns a little away from her, takes the pistol from his pocket, and gives it to her.
Georgiana. [Bursting into tears.] Oh, Steve!
[She turns away and puts the pistol on the table between the windows.
Steven. Forgive me, Georgy, forgive me! This promise I’ll keep. Only forgive me for breaking your heart like this!
Coast. [Entering Right.] I’ve been sent up to bring you down to dinner.
[He takes in the situation. A pause.
Georgiana. Do you know what Steve has just told me?
Steven. [Bitterly.] Yes, he knows.
Coast. Just what?
Georgiana. Steve has gone on speculating, and my money’s followed the rest.
Coast. Yes, I knew that.
Georgiana. Couldn’t you have saved him?
Coast. I offered to once, but you refused.
Georgiana. And now?
[Short pause.
Coast. [He goes to Georgiana, who is on the sofa.] My offer is still open to the same tune.
Steven. No, Georgy, no!
Georgiana. For Steve’s own sake, won’t you do something for him? Get him some position so that he can take care of Louise. I’ll look after myself.
Coast. I’ll do all and more, if you’ll marry me.
Georgiana. You know I can’t marry you.
Coast. What does Steve say?
Steven. What Georgy says, I say.
Coast. How are you going to get out of this without me?
Steven. I don’t know.
Coast. And there’s something else. [Steps towards Steven.] Perhaps you don’t know that unless some one does get you out of this, it won’t be only a money smash-up for Georgiana, but disgrace too!
Georgiana. That can’t be true! I shall say my brother had control of my money to do what he liked with it.
Coast. But any lawyer would take up the case of criminal mismanagement for my aunt and cousin’s affairs.
Georgiana. But they wouldn’t allow it.
Coast. Well, what do you think?
Steven. Louise—never!
Coast. Leave it to me!
Steven. Ah! your true colors! You heard him, Georgy?
Coast. Well, let that pass. But you know that you’ve overdrawn at your bank, that you’ve overdrawn at your brokers, and that you can no more get out of the muddle you’ve got yourself into without one of the biggest public scandals there’s been in the street for years!
Georgiana. But you can spare us that?
Steven. [Very low.] Good God!
[He moves away.
Coast. [To Georgiana.] That’s what I can.
Georgiana. And you love me?
Coast. I certainly do!
Georgiana. Then you will spare us!
Coast. If you’ll marry me.
Steven. No! [Comes down to her.] Georgy, you mustn’t! [Coast walks away.] Don’t you see what a selfish brute Sam is? Of course it was my fault that I gambled, but he tempted me, he led me into it when he knew I couldn’t resist. The very day and hour I gave you my promise, he gave me a tip and guaranteed I shouldn’t lose!
Georgiana. Sam! Oh!
[She turns to the bench before her dressing table and sinks upon it.
Coast. [Speaks to her across the table.] It’s true! And I led him to speculate more, I tricked him first with winning and then let him go! I knew he’d soon do for himself alone, and he did! Yes—I ruined him purposely and you through him, so as to get you to be my wife. I did it purposely and I’d do it again! Of course I meant all along to make it up in the end when I’d got you.
Georgiana. And did you really think you could get me that way?
Coast. Why, you’ve got to marry me. You needn’t be afraid of what I won’t do for you. I love you, you know that. Everything—I’ve told you that before. You shall have everything on God’s earth you want, and Louise and her mother shall live in style as they always have, and Steve have his own money back, with a brother-in-law to help him take care of it! And what’s the other side of the picture? Nothing for you or Louise or anybody—and disgrace for Steve into the bargain. Why, you’ve got to marry me! [Georgiana rises, Coast follows her.] Don’t you see? Anyway [Smiling.] it was only a trick to make you, because, Georgy, I love you so! [A pause; she stands looking at him.] Well?
Georgiana. I’m trying to realize—to understand it all.
[Moles enters Left.
Moles. Please, miss, Mrs. Carley says your soup is all cold and they’re on with the fish.
Georgiana. Tell Mrs. Carley not to wait for Mr. Carley and me, we’re not coming down; but Mr. Coast will join them in a moment.
[Coast looks up surprised.
Moles. Yes, miss.
[He goes out. A moment’s pause.
Coast. What do you mean by that?
[Another pause.
Georgiana. [Slowly.] Not to save myself, not even to save my brother, and from even worse than we have to face, would I marry you.
Coast. Don’t say that, Georgy!
Georgy. Why, every word you’ve said, and everything you’ve done to make me love you, makes me instead—yes—and for what you’ve done with Steve [Looks at Steve.], I do hate you.
[Goes to the sofa, Coast follows.
Coast. I only said it because I love you, Georgiana.
Georgiana. Oh, Sam Coast, you don’t know what love is! Love doesn’t make beasts of men, it makes men of beasts. It doesn’t take all for itself—it sacrifices all for another. Love isn’t an enemy that lays traps and makes ambushes,—love is a friend whose heart is a divine magnet! Real love makes an angel of a woman and a hero of a man, but love such as you have—oh, the happiness in this world that’s been lost through it!
Coast. You don’t know me!
Georgiana. I didn’t, but I do! You’ve dragged down my brother, sacrificed him and my belief in him, almost, for your own selfish end, tried to trap me into marrying you when you know I didn’t love you.
Coast. But you would—
Georgiana. Once perhaps, though I can’t imagine it! But not now! No! I’d starve and suffer and die now before I could ever love you.
[A pause; Coast goes to the table and stands half shamefaced a moment, then he pulls himself up and turns.
Coast. Well, face the music for a while, and then see!
Georgiana. They’re waiting for you at dinner; please join them and tell them what you like.
Coast. I’ll tell them nothing. I’ll let you and Steve think things over a little.
Steven. [Rises, and goes to meet Coast.] You will have something to settle with me outside of money matters!
Coast. [With a jeer.] Please yourself.
[He goes out.
Georgiana. [To Steven.] I believe I can influence Louise to do nothing for the sake of the children, and she loves you in her way.
Steven. But the bank?
[He sits on sofa beside her.
Georgiana. Oh, we can take care of the bank; after all, we’ve friends, we’ve jewels, we’ve this house.
Steven. That’s true, and the brokers?
Georgiana. Who are they?
Steven. Caldwell and Hovery.
Georgiana. Mr. Caldwell will be at the ball to-night?
Steven. Probably.
Georgiana. I’ll see him. We’ve always been good friends,—and so were his father and your father. He won’t let his firm make a scandal if he can help it, especially as they can gain nothing and we should lose so much! Steve, we’ll get out of this yet, with your name all right!
Bella. [Entering Right.] May I come in?
Georgiana. Yes, Bella.
Bella. Oh, good evening, Mr. Carley, it’s a pleasant evening!
Steven. Good evening, Miss Shindle.
Bella. What I come to ask is if I shall do you now, and Mrs. Wishings around the corner afterwards?
Georgiana. I think I’d rather you went to Mrs. Wishings first if you don’t mind.
Bella. Oh, it’s all the same to me! Mrs. Wishings ain’t really in the smart set and they say her husband ain’t so rich, and she’s horrid to her servants—don’t give them cake. I don’t care if I lost her head to do! I’m like that, as you know, particular when I’m particular, but—well—just supercilious and negligée when it don’t count! Good gracious! [Laughing.] Oh, here’s a letter for you I brought up for Lizzie. It’s from the Phillypeenys and has a special delivery on. [Georgiana takes letter and opens it and reads it.] That’s how it come at this hour. Some folks do have luck, as the saying is! I’ve got to wait till to-morrow morning for mine if I get one, and if there’s a Phillypeeny post and I don’t get one, well, I pity the ladies’ hair I dress to-morrow, that’s all! [To Steven.] Mr. Carley, you’ve got lovely soft hair, haven’t you? I know you have a lovely disposition, I can tell it from your hair. Yes, indeed, they always go together, it’s a certain sign! Now Mrs. Wishings’ hair is just like a horse’s tail! what there is of it. I often feel like asking her which she’d rather I done it, on or off! [Laughs heartily.] I must have my little joke, but nobody minds me—good-by.
Steven. Good-by.
[Bella goes out Left.
Georgiana. [Looking up, bursting with happiness and reading as she speaks.] Oh, Steve! Steve! Such good news! I can hardly wait to tell you, but just let me finish it.
Steven. Finish anything that means good news, Georgy, and then for heaven’s sake tell me what it is.
Georgiana. [Closing the letter.] It’s finished!
[She looks up radiant and forgetful of him for a moment.
Steven. Well!
[Rises and goes to Georgiana.
Georgiana. [Softly.] Dick loves me!
Steven. Dick Coleman?
Georgiana. He loves me, he’s always loved me!
Steven. But why—? I don’t understand—
Georgiana. No, I didn’t know it. I thought—there were reasons why I thought he didn’t love me. But I understand now. Listen; I’ll read you a part of his letter—a part of it! Oh, this makes up for everything, Steve. [She reads.] “My dear—[She stops and improvises the next three words.] my dear Georgy: [She looks up slyly to see if Steven noticed the change; he didn’t.] Each steamer brings me letters from home, but never a word of your engagement to Coast, never a word of your marriage. Is that broken off—” How do you suppose he got the impression I was going to marry Sam?
Steven. Why everybody has seen, who cared to look, that Sam was dead in love with you.
Georgiana. Yes, but—well—never mind, listen—“Well, however it is, we’re starting off to-morrow out of reach of letters and everything else, except an ugly band of natives that we came here to do for. The chances are pretty big against many of us getting back, and anyway I’m going to take this chance to tell you that I love you better than anything and everything and everybody in the world. And in case I never come back, somehow or other, I don’t know why, I want you to know it. I was a little late in finding it out,—all of a sudden I knew you were the only woman for me, and that the only thing I seemed to want in the world was you for a wife. And there was Coast ahead of me! I don’t know if it would have made any difference if you loved Coast and not me, perhaps you never would have cared for me, but I’d have done my best, for, Georgy—I love you”—[She reads ahead to herself, murmuring so he cannot understand.] “I don’t know why I must tell you all this, but I must”—[She reads ahead again in silence, skipping the passages which are too loving and too precious to read aloud.] I think that’s all—[She looks up and smiles, and adds softly.] that I care to read aloud! Oh, Steve!
[She puts her arms around his neck and hugs him.
Steven. I’m so glad, old girl, so glad!
[Tightening his arm about her.
Georgiana. Steve, I’m so happy! I don’t want to seem selfish, and really I’m not forgetting you, but I can’t help it. I’m so happy.
[Steven kisses her. A short pause.
Georgiana. [Softly, thoughtfully.] Can one cable to the Philippines?
Steven. Yes!
[Smiling and again giving her a little squeeze.
Georgiana. [Going to the sofa.] So far as I’m concerned, my money now doesn’t count a rap. Dick has plenty and doesn’t want mine. So now it’s only Louise and mother you must think of, and you can take care of them well, you know you can, if they’ll only accept the different conditions. And Dick and I’ll help—
Steven. [Interrupting.] I hate to say it, Georgiana, but suppose—
[Very serious.
Georgiana. What?
Steven. Well, you know why Dick wrote that letter,—because he was going into dangerous fighting.
Georgiana. Oh, he will come back, he must come back! So few of our men have been lost in the Philippines, Dick can’t be one of the few. After all, life nowadays isn’t so tragic as that.
Steven. Yes, of course Dick’ll come back, Georgy [Short pause.], but won’t he despise me?
Georgiana. No, you’re my brother. And oh, Steven, forgive me, but I’m so happy. [Hugging the pillows on the sofa and burying her face in them.] Don’t let me be silly—don’t let me forget I’m an old maid,—and there’s no fool like an old fool! I mustn’t forget there’s probably an orange or two among the blossoms for my hair!
[Mrs. Carley and Louise come into the room from the Right without speaking. They look from Georgiana to Steven. They are under the strain of violent emotion almost too much for words. Their appearance is tragic.] There is a pause.
Steven. Sam has told you?
Louise. It isn’t true what he says?
Mrs. Carley. [Bursting out, as the strain breaks.] That everything’s gone? Everything!
[Mrs. Carley comes to Steven.
Steven. Yes, it’s true!—
[He moves up.
Mrs. Carley. We haven’t a cent?—not a penny! for car fare! for theatre tickets! nothing for our wash bills, or to go away with in the summer!
Louise. Georgiana’s money gone too—now, Steve?
Mrs. Carley. As well as Louise’s and mine?
Georgiana. Yes, mine’s gone too now, but I’m going to take it just as sensibly as Louise did before me.
Mrs. Carley. She had yours to fall back on.
Georgiana. And I’m going to take myself off your hands, and Steve is perfectly capable of getting some dignified position and taking care of you and Louise.
Mrs. Carley. Yes, I can imagine what that means! A flat with rooms like a string of buttons, mantelpiece beds and divans! and all your friends trying to get into the bathroom when they are looking for the hall door to get out!
[Coast comes in from the Right. They all look at Sam.
Georgiana. Do you think Sam has a place here in what we may say now?
Louise. Why not? He’s my cousin.
Mrs. Carley. Yes. And the only one of us now anyway who has a cent.
Louise. I don’t think we can expect much help from Sam as to money.
Coast. That shows you don’t know me.
Louise. [Going to Coast.] You’ll help us?
Coast. I’ve offered to make up every cent Steve’s lost; ask Georgiana.
Georgiana. Yes, Sam offered to make a “trade” with me—
Mrs. Carley. How?
[Looks at Georgiana.
Georgiana. To make up Steve’s losses if I’d marry him.
Mrs. Carley. [Quietly to Coast.] Sam! It’s too good to be true.
Coast. So Georgiana thinks.
Louise. [Angrily.] You won’t do it?
Georgiana. No, I don’t love your cousin.
Mrs. Carley. Don’t love him! What do you owe us? Louise loved Steve and what good did it do her? You’ve got the chance to make up for your brother!
Steven. That’s not Georgiana’s duty,—to make up for me.
Mrs. Carley. You can’t do it yourself, and you don’t want your wife to starve, do you.
Georgiana. Louise won’t starve.
Louise. [To Georgiana.] You could save us and you won’t!
Georgiana. I don’t love Sam.
Mrs. Carley. Don’t “love”? Did Molly Packer from Toledo love the Duke of Birmingham? and isn’t she happy now?
Georgiana. I don’t know, I have my doubts.
Mrs. Carley. Doubts! Oh, doubts!
Georgiana. That’s not the point, mother. I’m not going to marry Sam.
Mrs. Carley. Oh, very well, then, have your way.
Georgiana. I will, mother.
Mrs. Carley. [Going to the sofa.] Don’t consider my way at all.
Georgiana. I won’t, mother, since you ask me not to.
Mrs. Carley. But I’ll tell you this, Georgiana, you’re just as bad as Steve! We must shake off both of you. Louise must get a divorce and marry again. Look what other widows have done before her.
[Louise goes to her mother and takes her hand.
Georgiana. Mother! Louise!
Louise. Well, why not?
Mrs. Carley. Certainly!
Georgiana. [Goes to them.] No! Listen! You must stand by Steve, both of you. You ought to do it out of affection, for, after all, whatever you’ve got of friends and position and the things you value he gave you! But never mind that! You ought to stand by him out of loyalty,—but never mind that! You’ve got to stand by him because if you ruin him you’ll ruin yourselves. You and mother could never hold up your heads again in our world—in the world you love—if you left Steve. After all, though our world may be careless sometimes of what it does itself, it is very particular about what those people do who are its guests! Of course, Louise, it does come hardest on you, for yourself and for the children—but still you’ve got to stand by Steve.
Mrs. Carley. Sam!
[Going to Sam for help.
Louise. Oh, I suppose I’ll forgive him, I always do, but I don’t know about forgiving you.
Georgiana. Me?
Louise. If you don’t marry Sam! You can make everything all right, and Sam loves you—you can make mother happy and me happy and Steve happy....
Steven. [Interrupting.] No, leave me out!
[He goes up behind the sofa.
Louise. Our life would go on just the same,—Steve will make no more mistakes. I think you’re heartless to refuse!
Georgiana. But, Louise, you ask me to give up entirely my own happiness.
Louise. Not at all! There’s no one else in love with you but Sam, and this isn’t your first year out, you know.
Mrs. Carley. And anyway it would be five happy against one unhappy, there’s no arguing about that.
Coast. [To Louise.] You and your mother both think she ought to accept me, don’t you?
Louise. Certainly.
Coast. [To Georgiana.] I told you.
Georgiana. Yes, Sam, you win!—but Louise! I love some one else.
Louise. Dick Coleman?
Georgiana. Yes, and I’m going to marry him.
Coast. [Turning quickly.] Has he asked you?
Georgiana. Yes! To-day!
[Showing her letter. Mrs. Carley sits on the sofa.
Coast. [Angry, to Louise.] Then you bring suit against Steve and I’ll back you up,—I’ll bet you I’ll get your case!
Louise. But Steve hasn’t any money.
Coast. No, but you can show him up! You can blackguard his name for him! You can disgrace him in the papers!
Louise. But I don’t want to do that! It would only make things worse.
Georgiana. Good, Louise!
Coast. I’ll bet the bank and Steve’s brokers won’t be so soft-hearted.
Georgiana. There’s this house for the bank.
Mrs. Carley. [Crying.] This house! I shall die!
[Georgiana goes to her.
Georgiana. Oh, no, you won’t; you’ll live very happily in a nice little flat, with two servants and a polite elevator boy in buttons.
Mrs. Carley. [Pitifully.] Louise!
Georgiana. And Mr. Caldwell I am going to see at the ball to-night. I believe he will help us if he can.
Louise. You’re going to the ball? In spite of everything?
Georgiana. Yes, we must. Let’s have as little talk about the whole thing as possible. Steve’s had bad luck! The people mustn’t think there’s anything we’re ashamed of. There isn’t anything.
Coast. Oh, isn’t there?
Georgiana. No.
[Louise gets the smelling salts from the table for Mrs. Carley.
Mrs. Carley. It’s true; so long as we’ve lost everything else, I don’t see why she should lose the ball too!
[Using the smelling salts.
Louise. And I suppose we really ought to be seen there, or lots of people will never believe we were asked.
Coast. Well, I guess this is where I get out. I’ll strike one of those musical comedies! I think ragtime will be good enough for me to-night, instead of a neck and arm circus. You won’t want me for escort after all this?
Louise. You can please yourself, Sam.
Coast. Not exactly; I guess this is the day I try sour grapes. [Goes to door Left,—he turns.] When’s Coleman coming back, Georgiana?
Georgiana. I don’t know.
Coast. Oh! [Goes to Steven at mantel.] Steve—listen—how long are they holding that rotten stock of yours for you?
Steven. [Laughs.] Ha! till to-morrow noon.
Coast. Well, cheer up, I’ll send her up ten points for you by eleven. [Slaps him on the back.] See you all later, maybe, if my show’s dull.
[And with a side glance at Georgiana he goes out Left.
Mrs. Carley. [Rises.] I only wish to heaven Sam Coast wanted to marry me!
Louise. Mother! Come, let’s finish dressing.
Mrs. Carley. I don’t know whether to go to the ball or stay home and have a good cry.
Georgiana. Do whichever gives you the most pleasure, mother.
[Lizzie enters Right and stands behind the dressing table.
Mrs. Carley. What? [Looking at herself in the glass.] It’s all very well for them to give us women a new front, I wish they’d give us new backs too.
[She goes out Right.
Lizzie. You must start dressing, miss—Miss Shindle will be back.
Georgiana. [Absent-mindedly.] Yes, yes, Lizzie.
[Lizzie goes out.]
Louise, I’m so glad you will stand by Steve; and try and be glad a little for me.
[Placing her arm about Louise.
Louise. Yes, I don’t blame you, Georgy, so long as Dick’s proposed. I’d do just as you’ve done, and I will be glad for you by to-morrow,—I am glad now.
[Kisses her impulsively.
Georgiana. Thank you, Louise, dear.
[She goes out Right.
Steven. Louise!
Louise. [Comes to Steve.] Steve. [Louise touches Steve on the arm.] I don’t want to be horrid, but do you think you will be able to get anything decent to do?
Steven. I’m sure I will.
Louise. But will we have enough money to hold our own?
Steven. I’ll do my best. Louise, I appreciate your not making more of a row!
[With his arm around her.
Louise. Oh, Steve, I know it’s just as hard for you—and I do love you and I want to be nice about it, but—[She cries. Steven kisses her again, in his arms.] I mustn’t give way like this. I’ll be a sight at the ball. Don’t let me cry, dear.
Steven. All right. Come on upstairs now, and make yourself beautiful.
[They go toward the door Right.
Bella. [Reëntering Left.] Good evening again, is Miss Georgiana ready for me?
Louise. She must be,—is my hair all right?
Bella. Oh, yes, that’s one thing about my hair dressing, though I do say it as shouldn’t, it has a lasting quality.
[Louise goes out Right.
Georgiana. [Calls from inside.] Is that you, Bella?
Bella. Yes, ma’am.
Georgiana. I’ll be there in a minute—be quick, Lizzie.
Bella. [Lower voice.] Mr. Carley, have you seen the evening papers?
Steven. No!
Bella. I just bought one and it’s got an article about the 91st regiment.
Steven. What about it?
[Looks to see if door is closed.
Bella. [Same voice.] They say it may ‘a’ been wiped out of existence: it’s three weeks now since news of it was due, and the paper’s afraid they’ve met with an ambyscade or something like that.
Steven. Oh, when the newspapers are hard up for news they get up something about the Philippines! It’s the modern sea-serpent. When there’s absolutely nothing else to print—no girl suicide in Brooklyn, or cyclone in Kansas, or joke on Chicago, then they give the Philippines a paragraph or an insurrection. Don’t you worry, Miss Shindle.
[He sits in the arm-chair near the sofa.
Bella. But it says the island they went against was the heathenest of the lot, and that there’s no good reason why if they’d hadn’t no fight with the natives, we shouldn’t ‘a’ had news from them.
Steven. The whole question of news in a case like this is too uncertain to make so much alarm about. The men’s idea is not to send picture postal cards of daily movements home to America, but to lick the natives into shape!
Bella. I’m sure you do comfort me. Don’t know as Miss Georgiana told you, but my young man’s out there, with Mr.—Lieutenant Coleman.
Steven. Well, don’t worry. You just make up your mind the papers are short of news to-night.
Bella. Goodness, they won’t be to-morrow with all they’re going to print about this ball! Say, I’ve a friend whose sister’s a literary lady and writes for the Sunday papers in Buffalo. She’s got an article in my line, called the “Heads of the Smart Set which was Set at the Grand Duke.” Ain’t that a cute name for an article? And it don’t mean their heads either; it means their coffyures, as she says—she speaks French. She was born and raised in Niagara Falls, near to Canada, where the language comes natural,—over the water, as it were!
Steven. [Going to her.] I wouldn’t mention this newspaper report to Miss Carley—it would only needlessly alarm her, perhaps, and spoil her evening.
Bella. Oh, I wouldn’t for worlds.
[She moves to the dressing table as Georgiana comes in.
Georgiana. Here I am’. Oh, my dear Steve! You’ll be late. You’re not dressed yet.
Steven. All right. I’m going now—I was entertaining Miss Shindle till you were ready.
[With, a bow to Miss Shindle, Steven goes out Right.
Bella. [Taking her bottles, etc., from a little bag which she carries.] He is a perfect gentleman!
Georgiana. [Sitting before the dressing table.] Now come along, Bella! I only want you to brush my hair; I’ve had a trying evening here, and I’ve a splitting headache. See if you can take it away and make me look as if I’d never had one.
Bella. [Tying apron about Georgiana’s neck.] I’ll do my best; but I can tell you most of the ladies I know’d be willing to have a headache every blessed minute of their lives if they could look as you do now!
Georgiana. Oh, what blarney, Bella! I don’t know, somehow I want to be beautiful to-night.
Bella. For the Dook?
[Beginning to brush her hair.
Georgiana. No!
Bella. For him?
[Pointing at Coleman’s photograph with her hair-brush.
Georgiana. Yes. [Drawing the picture toward her.] It was a dear letter I had from him to-night, Bella! I hope you’ll have as nice a one from Mr. Gootch to-morrow morning.
Bella. Well, if I don’t—
[Shutting her teeth, she unconsciously pulls Georgiana’s hair.
Georgiana. Oh, oh!
Bella. Oh, I beg your pardon!
Georgiana. Don’t take it out on me, wait till Mr. Gootch gets back!
Bella. [Combing.] I don’t know as you’re the jealous kind. Judging from your hair you ain’t. It usually goes with blonde or red, or else crimpy, and what I dislike about red hair is the freckles—you can almost count on ’em! You’ve got sort of trusting hair. But besides, Mr. Coleman wasn’t a floor walker in a shop with over a hundred lady clerks—I think that’s apt to make a gentleman flightier; and he being bald, has me to a disadvantage, so to speak. I can’t judge by my customary signs.
Georgiana. [Looking at Coleman’s photograph.] Bella, I should say Lieutenant Coleman has splendid, straight, honest hair, shouldn’t you?
Bella. I can’t say as I’ve ever really had any experience of his hair, ma’am.
Georgiana. But do you think him an awfully handsome man, Bella, or am I prejudiced?
Bella. No, indeed, I never seen a handsomer gentleman, not even in the pictures of gentlemen’s clothes in tailor store windows. [Puts comb down, and takes brush and brushes again.] But what continues to make me nervous about Mr. Gootch is that he’s right there among all those black creatures, whose manners is very free, I’m told, and whose style of dressing is peculiar, the least you say! Mr. Gootch always did favor dark-complexioned people, and if that letter don’t come to-morrow—
[Getting excited, she again pulls Georgiana’s hair.
Georgiana. Ouch! [Laughing, holds up her hand, and catches her hair to ward off another pull.] Be careful!
Bella. Excuse me! in my art, there’s no use talking, you oughtn’t let your mind wander from the subject in hand—does your head feel better?
Georgiana. I don’t know, Bella, if it does or not! Your treatment is very heroic.
Bella. [Spraying her hair.] You don’t feel worried about something happening to them way out there, do you, Miss Georgiana?
Georgiana. I daren’t think of it. Oh, Bella, I’ve had lots of trouble to-day, and I’ve a serious time ahead of me—but all the same I am such a happy woman. [Turning to look at Bella, she disarranges her hair, much to Bella’s disapproval.] Do you love Mr. Gootch tremendously, Bella?
Bella. Why, love isn’t the word! my feeling for Mr. Gootch is a positive worship. When I get to thinking of him in the underground I always go by my station, sometimes two.
Georgiana. Be grateful for your love, Bella; it’s a wonderful thing.
Bella. [Finishing the dressing of the hair.] You know I’ve just done Mrs. Wishings, she puts too much on!
Georgiana. Does she rouge?
Bella. No, hair. I don’t mind a switch or two for foundation, and a couple of puffs for ornament, with a tight curl or two for style,—especially if you’ve got one of those new undilated fronts, but I think that’s all you can expect to have any hair dresser make look as if it growed there. There! How’s that?
[Puts hairpin in Georgiana’s hair.
Georgiana. [Holding up Dick’s photograph.] How’s that, Dick—is it all right?
Bella. [Delighted.] Ain’t that a cute idea?
Georgiana. We both trust you, Bella, to make me all right.
Bella. What ornaments?
[Taking off the apron, she walks around to Right of the table.
Georgiana. Would you wear any?
Bella. Oh, yes, for such an occasion! Of course, for maidens only feathers is correct; for wives and widows, tiaras and feathers.
[Putting away her things. Mrs. Carley enters in a flurry of excitement, superbly dressed, and too youthfully.
Mrs. Carley. Here I am; I’ve hurried so I don’t feel half dressed.
Georgiana. [Smiling.] That’s almost the way you look, mother.
Mrs. Carley. Well, I always did have shoulders, and I don’t intend to hide them under a bushel; but what do you think of the dress, is it a success?
Georgiana. From your point of view—perfect!
Mrs. Carley. Yes, but what’s the difference about your point of view about it and mine?
Georgiana. Well, I should think about thirty years, darling!
Mrs. Carley. Oh, Georgiana, you really are unkind. When I don’t know how on earth it’s ever going to be paid for now, I think you might be serious, and let me feel anyway it’s a success.
Georgiana. Mother dear, it’s a triumph. Really, I never saw you look better!
Mrs. Carley. Really! and how is my hair?
Georgiana. Redder!
Bella. Oh, Miss Georgiana, it isn’t too red a bit.
Georgiana. It’s very fine, Bella, but I think I’d take off a little. You don’t want Mrs. Carley to rival Mrs. Wishings and look as if she’d cornered the hair market.
Bella. She’s just teasing you.
[Georgiana has risen.
Mrs. Carley. You are lovely, Georgiana.
Georgiana. That’s because my thoughts are lovely.
Mrs. Carley. I’m awfully proud of you, dear, and wish you were my own daughter.
Georgiana. Thank you, mother.
Mrs. Carley. The Grand Duke will surely notice you. Aren’t you going to put something in your hair?
Bella. [Handing it to Georgiana.] A rose with glass dewdrops.
[Newsboy’s voice heard in the street—calling, “Extra—Extra—Terrible”—the rest is indistinct.
Georgiana. What’s that?
Mrs. Carley. A newsboy with an extra.
[Man’s voice outside, “Extra—Extra—Terrible”—the rest is still indistinct. Louise enters, beautifully dressed.
Bella. Oh!
Georgiana. Lovely, Louise!
Louise. I’ve got a splitting headache. [Man’s voice outside, “Extra—Extra.”] What can the extra be? [Enter Steven.] Steve, do you know what the extra is?
Steven. Oh, they’re never anything you know.
[In distance are heard several voices at once at different distances, all calling, “Extra—Extra—Terrible”—etc.
Mrs. Carley. Yes, they’re always so disappointing, generally a railway accident out west! or a bomb thrown in Europe. Are you ready, Georgiana?
[The “Extras” are louder.
Steven. Yes, if we’re going we ought to go.
[“Extra—Extra,” called underneath the window.
Georgiana. Listen, what did he say?
[Voice shouts outside, “Terrible fight in the Philippines; an entire regiment wiped out!”
Bella. [Frightened.] I heard “Philippines.”
[Goes to the window.
Georgiana. And a terrible fight! Some one must get the paper!
Steven. We haven’t time now, Georgy.
Mrs. Carley. Yes, we must be there before the Grand Duke arrives.
[Outside, “Extra—Extra!”
Georgiana. I must see that paper, Steve.
Mrs. Carley. Georgiana, I think you are too thoughtless.
[Outside, “Entire regiment wiped out!”
Georgiana. Steve, do you hear that! Will you get the paper or shall I call to the man?
Steven. I’ll get it. [Goes to a window and opens it, pulling aside the curtain. He calls down to the boy in the street.] Here! Hi! Extra!
[Voice outside, “Here you are, boss!”
Steven. Ring the bell.
[He comes back into the room. One “Extra” is heard louder than before, and then the cries gradually die away.
Mrs. Carley. The carriage has already been here nearly an hour.
Georgiana. It if should be Dick’s fight, if it should be Dick’s regiment!
Louise. Make up your mind, mother, to be a little late. We can’t go till we see the paper.
Georgiana. [At the door Right.] Lizzie! Where is she? Didn’t he go to the door with the paper, Steve?
Bella. I’ll see, miss.
[She goes out Right.
Steven. Yes. I saw him. But, Georgy, it won’t be Dick’s regiment.
Mrs. Carley. [By the sofa.] Louise, I’ll tell you what we’ll do, let’s go down and be getting on our wraps.
Louise. No, mother, wait.
Georgiana. No, Louise, go down, please, with mother. I’d rather.
Mrs. Carley. [Going out Left.] Yes, come along.
[Louise looks at Georgiana, who nods her head “Yes” to go.
Louise. I’ll come back.
[She follows Mrs. Carley out. Lizzie enters Right with the paper. Georgiana takes the paper from Lizzie, who immediately goes out Right.
Steven. Shall I look?
Georgiana. [Standing by the sofa.] No, I will. Here it is—“Battle with Ladrones. The 91st Regiment of New York, which went out under Captain H.S. Miller to subdue the bandits in the Island of Orla, met an ambuscade of the Ladrones and were annihilated almost to a man.” [She looks up dazed, not able at once to realize what it means. Rereads, skipping some lines.] “Captain H.S. Miller who went out under—to subdue the bandits in the—met an ambuscade of the Ladrones and was annihilated almost to a man.” Steve! his regiment,—do you think it’s true? Do you think it can be true?
Steven. [Beside her.] No, let me read it.
Georgiana. [She sinks down on the end of the sofa.] No, I will! [She reads on.] “News was brought by private—private—[Her eyes hurrying on.] the sole survivors. Privates—” [Her eyes run along the printed lines again.] Steve, I can’t see his name. Isn’t it there? Can’t you see it?
Steven. [Looking.] No.
Georgiana. [Almost whispers.] It means—?
Steven. [Striving to hide his own emotion and to encourage her.] The news is too meagre to be true.
Mrs. Carley. [In hall Left.] Georgiana! We must go.
Georgiana. [Starts. To Steven.] Don’t let mother come in, please.
Louise. [Just outside the door.] Georgiana, we must go.
Georgiana. [To Steven.] Say I’m coming.
Steven. I can’t leave you alone. [Going to the door.] Georgy’s coming.
Louise. [Outside.] Good! Hurry!
Steven. [Coming back to her.] But I can’t leave you.
Georgiana. You must. And anyway I want you to. I want to be alone.
[Steven hesitates. He comes and takes her hand and is about to kiss her, but something keeps him back; he presses her hand and she gives a grateful look. She crosses to the dressing table and sits before it, dazed. Slowly she takes the flowers from her hair, the pearls from her neck. The front door slams, she lifts her head, and leaning her arm toward Dick’s picture, draws it toward her, gazing at it. Then, crying, “Dick, Dick,” she bursts into tears and drops her head upon her arms outstretched on the table as
the curtain falls