The Girl with the Green Eyes | Page 9

to him.] And I've noticed how you've overcome certain things, dear Geof. I know it's been hard, and I'm proud of you.
GEOFFREY. Sh! Jinny, dear old sister! I'll miss you! By George, Jin, the house'll be awful without--but you-- [His voice grows husky.] --just excuse me a minute!
[He is about to break down, and so hurries out Right.
JINNY. [Sniffling.] He was going to cry! Oh, Jack, you'll be a brother to Geoffrey, won't you? You know he's been awfully dissipated, and he's changed it all, all by himself! If he should go wrong again--I believe it would break my heart, I love him so!
AUSTIN. I'll do more for him, if he ever needs me, than if he were my own brother, because he's yours!
JINNY. [Presses his hand and looks up at him lovingly and gratefully.] Thank you. Wait here just a minute; I know he won't come back to say good-by. He's gone up to his room, I'm sure--I'll just surprise him with a hug and my hands over his eyes like we used to do years ago.
[She starts to go out Right, and meets MR. and MRS. TILLMAN, who enter.
TILLMAN. The carriage is here!
JINNY. I won't be a second--
[She goes out Right.
MRS. TILLMAN. Where has she gone?
AUSTIN. Up to her brother.
MRS. TILLMAN. Her father's been locked up in his study for three hours--he says thinking, but to me his eyes look very suspicious!
[Taking her husband's arm affectionately.
TILLMAN. [Clears his throat.] Nonsense!
MRS. TILLMAN. Well, how many cigars did you smoke?
TILLMAN. Eight.
MRS. TILLMAN. The amount of emotion that a man can soak out of himself with tobacco is wonderful! He uses it just like a sponge!
TILLMAN. Jack, the first thing I asked about you when I heard that--er--that things were getting this way was, does he smoke? A man who smokes has always that outlet. If things go wrong--go out and smoke a cigar, and when the cigar's finished, ten to one everything's got right, somehow! If you lose your temper, don't speak!--a cigar, and when it's finished, then speak! You'll find the temper all gone up in the smoke! A woman's happiness is safest with a man who smokes. [He clears his throat, which is filling.] God bless you, Jack, it is a wrench; our only girl, you know. She's been a great joy--ahem!
[He quickly gets out a cigar.
MRS. TILLMAN. [Stopping him from smoking.] No, no, dear, they're going now!
TILLMAN. Well, the best I can say is, I wish you as happy a married life as her mother and I have had.
MRS. TILLMAN. Thirty-five dear years! But now, George, let me say a word--you always have monopolized our new son--he'll be much fonder of you than me!
TILLMAN. Old lady!--Jealous!--
MRS. TILLMAN. Turn about is fair play--you're jealous still of Jinny and me. [She pauses a moment.] I think we'd better tell him!
TILLMAN. All right. The only rifts in our lute, Jack, have been little threads of jealousy that have snapped sometimes!
MRS. TILLMAN. Nothing ever serious--of course, but it's a fault that Jinny shares with us, and the only fault we've ever been able to find.
TILLMAN. We called her for years the girl with the green eyes. She goes it pretty strong sometimes!
AUSTIN. Oh, that's all right--I shall like it!
MRS. TILLMAN. You'll always bear with her, won't you, if she should ever get jealous of you?
AUSTIN. Of me? I'll never give her the chance.
MRS. TILLMAN. It isn't a question of chance; you just can't help it sometimes, can you, George?
TILLMAN. No, you can't.
MRS. TILLMAN. And so--
AUSTIN. Don't worry! Your daughter's safe with me. I'm not the jealous sort myself and I love Jinny so completely, so calmly, and yet with my heart, and soul, and mind, and body, she'll never have a chance even to try to be jealous of me!
TILLMAN. Sh!
[JINNY enters Right.
JINNY. I found poor Maggie up in my room crying! She says she can't bear to have me go away. I think she's sorry now she wouldn't come with me as maid--and I said good-by to cook and she sniffed!
[AUSTIN looks at his watch.
AUSTIN. Oh! we ought to go!
MRS. TILLMAN. Good-by, darling!
[Kissing JINNY and embracing her a long time, while AUSTIN and TILLMAN shake hands warmly and say good-by.
JINNY. [Going to her father.] Good-by, father. Dear old father!
[With happy emotion.
[AUSTIN meanwhile is shaking hands with MRS. TILLMAN.
JINNY. [Returns to her mother.] Darling--oh, how good you've always been to me! Oh, mummy darling, I shall miss you! You'll send me a letter to-morrow, won't you, or a telegram? Send a telegram--you've got the address!
MRS. TILLMAN. [With tears in her eyes.] Yes, it's written down!
JINNY. You can tell father, but no one else!
[Hugs and kisses her mother.
TILLMAN. Come, Susan! They'll lose their train!
[JINNY again embraces her father.
ALL. Good-by! Good-by!
[JINNY, starting to go with AUSTIN, suddenly leaves him and runs back again