The Girl with the Green Eyes | Page 7

trunk handle.] If Auntie Tillman sees 'em, I'll bet she'll grab 'em off. She'll be as mad as hops!
[The BUTLER and FOOTMAN re?nter Right, and bring down an old steamer trunk and a gentleman's dressing-bag.
BUTLER. [To the FOOTMAN.] Go and see if the carriage is there!
FOOTMAN. Yes, sir.
[He goes out Left.
[As PETER re?nters from the back, with the water.
SUSIE. Quick now! Quick!
[They stick one label on the big steamer trunk facing the audience.
PETER. I say isn't that great!
[SUSIE giggles aloud with delight. The BUTLER, standing at one side, smiles. They put another label on the other trunk.
SUSIE. [Giggling.] I heard them plan it,--they're taking one old trunk purposely so as people would not catch on they were just married!
[Giggles delightedly.
[The FOOTMAN re?nters with a driver, Left.
FOOTMAN. Yes, sir, it's here.
BUTLER. [To the driver.] You can take that first.
[Pointing to the steamer trunk.
[DRIVER goes out Left with it on his shoulder, and the portmanteau.
BUTLER. Now, James, you're to go over with the luggage to Twenty-third Street Ferry and check the heavy baggage; you know where to.
FOOTMAN. Yes, sir.
SUSIE. [Eagerly.] Oh, where to?
BUTLER. I am hunder hoath not to tell, Miss.
SUSIE. O pish!
[Kneeling in the big arm-chair and watching proceedings from behind its back.
BUTLER. [Continues to the FOOTMAN.] And wait with the checks and Mr. Austin's dressing-bag-- [Showing it.] --until they come.
FOOTMAN. Yes, sir.
PETER. And make haste, or, I say, somebody'll turn up and give our whole joke away!
[The DRIVER re?nters.
SUSIE. Yes, do hurry!
FOOTMAN. [To the DRIVER.] Come along.
[They take the big trunk out Left. BUTLER follows with the dressing-bag.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. [Calls from the room at back.] Peter darling, are you there?
SUSIE. Phew! Just in time!
[Sliding down into a more correct position in the chair.
PETER. Yes, mother!
[Going to back.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. [In the doorway, at back.] Come, take these beautiful roses from Mrs. Tillman!
[MRS. CULLINGHAM and MRS. TILLMAN enter.
MRS. TILLMAN. [With her arms full of roses.] Thomas will take them down.
PETER. No, I'd like to. Aren't they bully?
[He takes them.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. [To MRS. TILLMAN.] Good-by, and thank you again. I know you must want to go up to Jinny.
MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, she may need me to help her a little. Good-by. Good-by, Peter.
PETER. Good-by, ma'm.
[MRS. TILLMAN goes out Right.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. Why, Susie, how do you do?
SUSIE. [Glides out of the chair and stands before it.] How do you do?
[Embarrassed.
MRS. CULLINGHAM. You're a good little girl, I hope?
SUSIE. I don't! I hate good little girls!
MRS. CULLINGHAM. O my!
[She goes out, laughing, Left.
[PETER, coming to SUSIE, catches her in his arms and kisses her, much against her will.
SUSIE. [Furious.] Oh, you horrid, nasty thing, you! [She strikes at him; he runs; she chases him from one side of the room to the other, around a sofa and table, and out Left, screaming as she chases him.] I hate you! I hate you!
[MAGGIE enters Right.
MAGGIE. Miss Susie, Mrs. Tillman wants to see you upstairs.
SUSIE. What for?
MAGGIE. I don't know, Miss.
SUSIE. Pshaw! have I got to go? All right!
[Going toward the door at Right.
[AUSTIN enters, meeting SUSIE.
AUSTIN. Hello! Where are you going?
SUSIE. Oh, up to Auntie Tillman's room. Goodness knows what for; it's an awful bore! Want to come along?
AUSTIN. No, thank you; but if you see your Cousin Jinny, you might tell her I am down.
SUSIE. [Hanging on to him.] I say! Where are you and Cousin Jinny going to, anyway?
AUSTIN. [Smiling.] I don't know.
SUSIE. O my, what a fib! And that's a nice example to set a little girl!
[She goes out Right.
MAGGIE. [Coming forward.] I beg pardon, sir, but may I speak to you a minute?
AUSTIN. Certainly, Maggie, what is it?
MAGGIE. I've been trying for a chance to see you alone. I wouldn't bother you, sir--but it's only because I'm fond of Miss Jinny, and of Mr. and Mrs. Tillman, and they've all been so good to me; I know it would nearly kill 'em if they knew.
AUSTIN. Come, Maggie, knew what?
MAGGIE. Well, one member of this family ain't been good to me, sir. [From this point her feelings begin to get the better of her and she speaks rapidly and hysterically.] He's been bad, bad as he could, and somebody's got to talk to him, and I don't see who's a-goin' to do it but you. If he don't change, I'll not hold my tongue any longer. It's all I can do for their sakes to hold it now!
AUSTIN. Look here, what are you talking about? You don't mean Mr. Geoffrey?
MAGGIE. Yes, I do, sir; he's my husband.
AUSTIN. What!!
MAGGIE. We was married when he was at Yale, sir; I was in a shop there.
AUSTIN. But--! Well, after all, isn't this your and Geoffrey's affair? Why bring me in?
MAGGIE. Because he's making love to Miss Chester, and promising to marry her now, and if he don't stop--I'll make trouble!
AUSTIN. But if he's married to you,