The Naturewoman | Page 7

so good to be here!
FREDDY. How did you get from the dock?
OCEANA. I walked.
ETHEL. Walked all the way?
OCEANA. Of course . . . I enjoyed it.
ETHEL. But in the storm!
OCEANA. I didn't mind that. It's all new to me, you see. My dear, think of it . . . I've never seen snow before. I was fairly crazy.
[She pulls off the coat and throws it on one of the suitcases.]
ETHEL. I must tell mother. And Letitia! [Opens door arid calls.] Mother! Letitia! Oceana's here!
FREDDY. [Stoops to pick up the suitcases.] Why . . .
OCEANA. What is it?
FREDDY. [He moves them against the wall with a great effort.] You don't mean you CARRIED those!
OCEANA. Why, yes.
FREDDY. From the docks?
OCEANA. [Laughs.] Oh, dear me! I didn't mind that.
FREDDY. Well . . . I'll be blowed!
[He has fallen head over heels in love with her, and whenever he is in her presence he follows her about with his eyes, like one bewitched.]
OCEANA. You aren't strong as you ought to be! You stay too much in the house!
ETHEL. Here's mother!
OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters.] My dear Anna! [Kisses her upon the cheek.] I am delighted to see you safe.
ETHEL. And Letitia!
OCEANA. Cousin Letitia!
LETITIA. [Enters.] My dear cousin! So glad you are here!
OCEANA. [Looking from one to the other, as they eye her critically.] Oh, are you really glad to see me? You must be, you know . . . for I've come so far. And you've no idea how homesick I've been.
MRS. MASTERSON. Homesick, my dear? For that wild place you left?
OCEANA. But Aunt Sophronia, that's my home! And it's God's own dream of beauty!
MRS. MASTERSON. Yes, my dear . . . I dare say . . .
OCEANA. Ah, you've never been there, or you wouldn't feel that way! Picture it as it is at this moment . . . the broad white beach . . . the sun setting and the clouds aflame . . . the great green breakers rolling in . . . the frigate- birds calling . . . the palm trees rustling in the wind! And you don't have to wrap yourself up in clothes . . . you don't have to shut yourself up in houses! You plunge through the surf, you dance upon the beach . . . naked . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. [Aghast.] My dear girl!
OCEANA. Oh, oh! That's so! I beg your pardon!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Coldly.] It will take you, a little while to get used to civilized ways . . .
OCEANA. Oh, no, no, no! I know about that . . . I know how it is. Father told me about Boston.
MRS. MASTERSON. My dear . . .
OCEANA. Don't worry about me. I'm really going to try to behave myself . . . in every way. I want to get the right sort of clothes, you know. I couldn't get them on my trip . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. It's just as well, my dear. You'd best have us attend to that. You will need mourning for quite a while, you understand.
OCEANA. Mourning!
MRS. MASTERSON. Yes . . . for your grandfather.
OCEANA. But, my dear Aunt Sophronia, I couldn't possibly wear mourning! No, no! I couldn't do that!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Astonished.] Why not?
OCEANA. In the first place, I never mourn.
MRS. MASTERSON. But your own grandfather, my dear!
OCEANA. But I never knew him. Aunt Sophronia . . . I never saw him in my life!
MRS. MASTERSON. Even so, my dear! Hasn't he left you all his fortune?
OCEANA. But am I supposed to mourn over that? Why, I'd naturally be happy about that!
LETITIA. Oceana!
OCEANA. But surely . . wouldn't you be happy about it?
MRS. MASTERSON. My child, one is not supposed to set so much store by mere money . . .
OCEANA. But Aunt Sophronia, money is power! And isn't anybody glad to have power? What else did I come here for?
MRS. MASTERSON. I had hoped you had come home for some other things . . . to see your relatives, for instance.
ETHEL. Here's father!
OCEANA. Uncle Quincy!
DR. MASTERSON. [Enters.] My dear girl! You have come! [Embraces her.] Why, what a picture you are! A very storm from the tropics ! My dear Oceana!
OCEANA. I'm so glad to get here.
DR. MASTERSON. Yes, indeed! I can believe it! And a strange experience it must have been . . . your first plunge into civilization!
OCEANA. Yes, Uncle Quincy! It's been horrible!
DR. MASTERSON. Horrible, my dear? In what way?
OCEANA. It's been almost too much for me. Really . . . I could understand how it might feel to be sick!
DR. MASTERSON. Why, what did you see?
OCEANA. Everything! It rushed over me, all at once! The people . . . their dreadful faces! And such noises and odors and sights!
DR. MASTERSON. I hadn't realized . . .
OCEANA. And then the saloons! Rows and rows of