The Climbers | Page 8

Street the other day and only succeeded getting in deeper, and for the last few days I've been nearly distracted.
BLANCHE. Why didn't you tell me?
STERLING. I thought I'd get out of it with this Consolidated Copper without worrying you.
BLANCHE. You were in that, too?
STERLING. How do you mean I, "too"?
BLANCHE. Mr. Mason has just told us father lost everything in it.
STERLING. [_Aghast._] You don't mean your father hasn't left any money?
BLANCHE. Nothing.
STERLING. [_Forgetting everything but what this means to him._] Nothing! But I was counting on your share to save me! What did the damned old fool mean?
BLANCHE. Dick!
STERLING. Forgive me, I didn't mean to say that.
BLANCHE. Oh, who are you! What are you! You are not the man I thought when I married you! Every day something new happens to frighten me, to threaten my love for you!
STERLING. No, no, don't say that, old girl.
[_He tries to take her hand._
BLANCHE. What right have you to criticise my father, to curse him--and to-day!
STERLING. I don't know what I'm saying, Blanche. Try to forgive me. I wouldn't have thought of such a thing as his money to-day if it wasn't the only thing that can save me from--disgrace.
[_His voice sinking almost to a whisper and the man himself sinking into a chair._
BLANCHE. Disgrace! How? What disgrace?
[_Going to him._
STERLING. I can't explain it; you wouldn't understand.
BLANCHE. You must explain it! Your disgrace is mine.
STERLING. [_Alarmed at having said so much, tries to retract a little._] Disgrace was too strong a word--I didn't mean that. I'm in trouble. I'm in trouble. Good God, can't you see it? And if you love me, why don't you leave me alone?
BLANCHE. How can I go on loving you without your confidence?--without ever being suffered to give you any sympathy? Doll wives are out of fashion, and even if they weren't, I could never be one.
STERLING. [_Laughing._] My dear, I'd never accuse you of being stuffed with sawdust.
BLANCHE. Oh, and now you joke about it. Take care, Dick.
STERLING. What's this, a threat?
BLANCHE. Yes, if you like to call it that. You've been putting me more and more completely out of your life; take care that I don't finish your work and go the last step.
STERLING. [_Seizing her roughly by the wrist._] The last step! What do you mean by that? [_Holding her hand more roughly._] You dare to be unfaithful to me!
BLANCHE. What! You could think I meant that! Ugh! How could you?
STERLING. Well, what did you mean then? Eh?
[_Pulling her up close to him, her face close to his. She realizes first by the odor, then by a searching look at his face, that he is partly under the influence of liquor._
BLANCHE. [_With pathetic shame._] Let me go! I see what's the matter with you, but the reason is no excuse; you've been drinking.
STERLING. [_Dropping her hand._] Ugh! The usual whimper of a woman!
[RUTH _re?nters Right._
RUTH. Well, Blanche, dear, your mother's in a calmer frame of mind, and I must go. Dick, can you lunch with me to-morrow?
STERLING. [_Hesitating, not caring about it._] Er--to-morrow?--er--
RUTH. Oh, only for business. I must have a new business man now to do all that he did for me, and I'm going to try to make up to you for not having been always your--best friend, by putting my affairs in your hands.
BLANCHE. [_Serious, uneasy, almost frightened._] Aunt Ruth--
[_She stops._
RUTH. What, dear?
BLANCHE. Nothing.
[She gives STERLING _a searching, steady look and keeps her eyes upon him, trying to read his real self._
RUTH. [Continues to STERLING.] Mr. Mason is coming to me in the morning, and if you will lunch with me at one, I will then be able to give all the papers over to you.
[STERLING, _who up to this time has been almost dumbfounded by this sudden good fortune, now collects himself, and speaks delightedly but with sufficient reserve of his feelings._ BLANCHE does not take her eyes from STERLING'S _face._
STERLING. Aunt Ruth, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I will do my best.
BLANCHE. [_Quickly._] Promise her, Dick, before me--give her your word of honor--you will be faithful to Aunt Ruth's trust.
[He answers BLANCHE'S _look steadily with a hard gaze of his own._
RUTH. His acceptance of my trust is equal to that, Blanche.
BLANCHE. It is of course, isn't it, Dick?
STERLING. Of course.
[BLANCHE _is not content, but has to satisfy herself with this._
RUTH. To-morrow at one, then.
[_She starts to go._
[JORDAN _enters Left._
JORDAN. Mr. Warden.
RUTH. I can't wait. Good-by.
[_She goes out Left._
BLANCHE. We will see Mr. Warden.
JORDAN. Yes, madam.
[_He goes out Left._
STERLING. Blanche, go to your mother and ask her to see Ned to thank him. I want a minute's talk with him if you don't mind.
BLANCHE. [_Pathetically._] What difference does it make, Dick, if I do mind?
STERLING. Don't say that, old girl, and don't think it.
BLANCHE. Dick, you