The Flutter of the Goldleaf | Page 6

But don't worry
about me, doctor. I know this is the end. If I can't convince you, then all
the world must think it hallucination.
Seymour
I'm not unconvinced. I simply don't know. And I'm deeply interested.
But you can't stand it, Philo. Get out of this. Be young. This is for older
heads. You'll have plenty of time. Get out--do anything. Fall in
love--fall in love--that will give you mysteries enough for a while. Yes,
I mean it--and don't forget, my dear boy, that you've interested me.
(Shakes hands with PHILO and goes down. PHILO listens until he has
reached the foot of the stairs.)

Philo
The heavens open--the suns speak--and he is--interested! (Closes door.)
Alone!... Fall in love! Light the candle and put out the stars!... (Returns
to his instrument.) ... It is still.
(Steps are heard on the stairs, then a knock at the door. He crosses
softly to door and shoots the bolt.)
Voice (without)
It's Reba, Philo! Won't you let me in?
(He is silent, and steps retreat.)
Philo (crossing to centre)
Reba! That folly's done with, thank God!... (Begins walking.)
Seymour.... I didn't know how much I was hoping from him.... It is
hard, hard to go on alone. But I must! I can't turn back from that call.
When a child cries we turn, and listen, and help. And this--this is the
voice of a world!
(A knock is heard at door.)
Voice of WARNER
Philo!
Philo
Buzz, buzz, old bee!
Voice
Come down, son!
Philo

Please leave me alone, father. I can't bear anything more to-night.
(A pause, and WARNER goes down.)
Philo (coming to table)
I will work--work--work! (Busies his hands.) Not a voice to help
me--not a smile of hope--not a touch of sympathy. (Sits still and
despairing.) ... Perhaps the time is not ripe for larger knowledge.
Nature and the Divinity that guides her must protect their new evolving
creatures. A too sudden revelation and they might perish from sheer
wonder.... Yes, truth must come softened, as a dream, to the man child's
brain. Its naked light would sere and blind him forever.... But to me it
has been given to see--to hear--and keep sane in the light. Oh, from
what planet is the call? From what one of the hundred million spheres?
How many centuries has it been sent outward to the deaf, the dumb,
and the blind? And what is the word? Is it Hail? Help? Hope?... Or is it
an answer? An answer to some signal of mine? How shall I know?...
How shall I know?
(There is a noise outside the window. PHILO does not look up. REBA
appears and leaps lightly through the windows. Advances centre. Her
dress is of clinging black, relieved by a floating scarf of cloudy white.
She has a mass of blonde hair, and all the charms properly belonging
to her age, which is eighteen.)
Reba
Philo!
Philo (turning)
Reba!
Reba
Don't be angry.
Philo

How did you get here?
Reba
The window. Don't you remember--you showed me how to climb up
once--with a ladder--the tree--and the shed roof? Oh, the things you've
forgotten, Philo!
(He goes to door and unbolts it.)
Philo
You must go down, Reba. (She does not move.) What will mother say?
Reba (laughing)
She held the ladder for me.
Philo
Mother?
Reba
You've frightened her so. You mustn't bolt the door again. She's afraid
you'll do something dreadful.
Philo
You were not afraid to come.
Reba
I like to take risks. Life's dull in this village.
Philo
How you've changed, Reba!

Reba
It's taken you long enough to find it out. I've been back a month.
Philo
You'd better go down. I'm very busy, and I've had a long interruption
this evening.
Reba
I'm going to interrupt some more. Dr. Seymour says it's good for you.
Philo (angrily)
Dr. Seymour knows you've come?
Reba
Yes. He said you might like the surprise. Don't you like it, Philo?
(Comes near him. PHILO turns away and busies himself about the
table and shelves as if he meant to ignore her utterly. REBA watches
him, then goes to window and takes a large apple from the ledge.
Comes back.)
Reba
I brought you an apple--such a love of an apple. There's a whole
summer of sunsets in it. I climbed the tree myself.
Philo (not looking)
Thank you; I don't eat.
Reba
Don't eat! Well, there it is! (Throws it on the table. He jumps to protect
his instrument.) You can lick it when you're hungry!

(He sits down and begins to work. She walks to other side of table and
picks up a book.)
Reba
Oh! Our old "Swiss Family Robinson"! The very one we read together!
With our names in it! You've kept it all the time! (Hugging it.) Dear old