you look just as you did then--so happy! I nearly died when I came
home and saw the change in your face. It seemed to shut me out, like a
great iron door. Philo.... You won't forget again?
_Philo_
Never!
_Reba_
And I may come every day?
_Philo_
Every day!
_Reba_
I'll help you, Philo. I'll give you all my hair. (_Lays her head on his
shoulder._) And I'll let you work and not think of me at all. You can
live with your stars----
_Philo_ (_kissing her_)
There are no stars!
_Reba_ (_laughing_)
I'll never be jealous again! (_Gets up._) Come! Let's see what the dinky
thing is doing!
(_Goes to table._ PHILO _watches her, slowly repeating her name._)
_Reba_
What a little thing it is! And--there _is_ something fluttering!
(PHILO _crosses, still seeing nothing but the girl._)
_Reba_
See--I'm trying to count--two--three----
(_He looks down, and becomes transfixed._)
_Philo_
Oh, my God! They've changed the signal!... Look, Reba! Count the beats!
Count for me! Count!
_Reba_ (_confused_)
Two--three--no, four----
_Philo_
Can't you _count_? Get away! (_Pushes her aside._)
Two--three--four--three-- They have _changed_ it! Oh, I must answer!
_Reba_
Philo----
_Philo_
Go down!
_Reba_ (_clinging to him_)
I won't--I won't----
_Philo_ (_putting her in a chair_)
Sit there, then. And for God's sake be still! (_Returns to machine and
counts under his breath._) It is true--it is true--and I am not ready! I
am dumb, like all the world! I cannot let them know! (_Walks the floor,
muttering_) But I will--I must. (_Crosses to window._) I must do
it!--think of nothing else--nothing! I shall not sleep till it is
done!... But they will call me mad--lock me up before I have finished,
God, before I have finished!
_Reba_
Philo, listen!
_Philo_
It's the world's way ... to beat the spirit down ... the eager spirit,
superbly sane, daring to pierce the barriers between heaven and earth!
_Reba_
I'll not sit here! (_She sits nevertheless._)
_Philo_
Oh, Truth-driven martyrs, seers of visions, prophets of the old world
and the new, born out of your time to suffer by fire, by sword, and
prison bars!
_Reba_ (_cooingly_)
Dear Philo!
_Philo_
I too shall join you! Forerunners of the waking spirit of the world!
(REBA _gets before him as he walks. Completely absorbed, he puts
her aside, absently but gently, as if she were a kitten he did
|