The Girl with the Green Eyes | Page 2

say "I do," and make them other remarks?
MAGGIE. Yes, plain, though her voice was trembly like. But Mr. Austin he almost shouted!
[Laughing nervously in excitement.
BUTLER. 'E's glad to get 'er!
MAGGIE. And her him!
HOUSEMAID. Yes, that's what I likes about it. Did any one cry?
MAGGIE. Mrs. Tillman. Lots of people are going now.
HOUSEMAID. What elegant clothes! Oh, gosh!
BUTLER. [Superciliously.] Mrs. Cullingham don't seem in no 'urry; she's a common lot!
MAGGIE. I don't care, she's rich and Miss Jinny likes her; she just throws money around to any poor person or church or hospital that wants it, or don't! So she can't be so very common neither, Mr. Potts!
HOUSEMAID. Say, I catch on to something! Young Mr. Tillman's sweet on that there tall bridesmaid.
MAGGIE. [Sharply.] Who?
BUTLER. Miss Chester. I've seen there was something goin' hon between them whenever she's dined or lunched 'ere.
MAGGIE. [Angry.] 'Tain't true!
BUTLER. I'll bet my month's wages.
MAGGIE. I don't believe you!
BUTLER. Why, what's it to you, please?
MAGGIE. [Saving herself.] Nothing--
HOUSEMAID. Well, I guess it's truth enough. That's the second time I've seen him squeeze her hand when no one wasn't lookin'.
MAGGIE. Here, change places with me! [Getting down from her chair.] If you was a gentleman, Mr. Potts, you'd have given me your place!
[Witheringly.
BUTLER. If I was a gentleman, miss, I wouldn't be here; I'd be on the other side of the door.
[He moves the chairs away.
MAGGIE. [To Housemaid.] Honest, you saw something between them?
HOUSEMAID. Who?
MAGGIE. Him and her? Mr. Geoffrey and Miss Chester--
HOUSEMAID. Cheese it! they're coming this way!
[She and the MAID and the BUTLER vanish through the door Right.
[GEOFFREY and RUTH enter through the double doors quickly at back. GEOFFREY is a young, good-looking man, but with a weak face. He is of course very smartly dressed. RUTH is a very serenely beautiful girl, rather noble in type, but unconscious and unpretending in manner. They close the doors quickly behind them.
GEOFFREY. We'll not be interrupted here, and I must have a few words with you before you go.
[He follows her to the sofa where she sits, and leans over it, with his arm about her shoulder.
RUTH. Oh, Geof,--Geof, why weren't we married like this?
GEOFFREY. It couldn't be helped, darling!
RUTH. It isn't the big wedding I miss, oh, no, it's only it seemed sweeter in a church. Why did we have to steal off to Brooklyn, to that poor, strange little preacher in his stuffy back parlour, and behave as if we were doing something of which we were ashamed?
GEOFFREY. You love me, I love you,--isn't that the chief thing, dearest?
RUTH. But how much longer must we keep it secret?
GEOFFREY. Till I can straighten my affairs out. I can't explain it all to you; there are terrible debts,--one more than all the others,--a debt I made when I was in college.
RUTH. If I could only help you! I have a little money.
GEOFFREY. No, I love you too much; besides, this debt isn't money, and I hope to get rid of it somehow before long.
RUTH. Forgive me for worrying you. It is only that every one is so happy at this wedding except me,--dear Jinny brimming over with joy, as I would be,--and it's made me feel--a little--
GEOFFREY. [Comes around the sofa and sits beside her.] I know, dear, and it's made me feel what a brute I am! Oh, if you knew how I hate myself for all I've done, and for the pain and trouble I cause you now!
[MAGGIE, her sharp features set tense, appears in the doorway on the left behind the curtains and listens.
RUTH. Never mind, we won't think of that any more.
GEOFFREY. I can never throw it off, not for a minute! I'm a worthless fellow and how can you love me--
RUTH. [Interrupting him.] I do! You are worth everything to me, and you will be worth much to the world yet!
GEOFFREY. I love you, Ruth--that's the one claim I can make to deserve you. But it's helped me to give up all the beastly pleasures I used to indulge in!
RUTH. [Softly.] Geof!
GEOFFREY. Which I used to think the only things worth living for, and which now, thanks to you, I loathe,--every one of them.
RUTH. I'm so glad! I've been some help, then.
GEOFFREY. If I'd only got you earlier, I'd have been a different man, Ruth!
RUTH. [Smiling and taking his nervous hand in hers.] Then I mightn't have fallen in love with you if you were a different man!
GEOFFREY. Dear girl! Anyway, this is the good news that I want to tell you--I hope now to have things settled in a couple of weeks.
RUTH. [In glad relief.] Geoffrey!
GEOFFREY. But--I mayn't be successful; it might be, Ruth--it might be, we would have to wait--for years--
RUTH. [Quietly.] I don't think I could bear that! It's not easy for me to lie and deceive as I've