EOFFREY. 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 had to the last few months; I don't think I
could keep it up.

[_PETER CULLINGHAM enters suddenly, from the ballroom, a pale young
man, but, unlike GEOFFREY, hard and virile._

PETER. Oh, here you are! I say, are you two spoony? Just the way _I_
feel! [_Laughing._] I caught and hugged old Mrs. Parmby just now! I
think it's sort of in the air at weddings, don't you?

GEOFFREY. [_Rising._] I'm surprised to see you've left the refreshment
table, Peter.

PETER. They sent me to find Miss Chester--they're going to cut the
bridesmaid's cake, and if you two really are spoony, Miss Chester, you'd
better not miss it--you might get the ring!

[_They laugh as PETER takes out a bottle from which he takes a round,
black tablet which he puts in his mouth._

RUTH. [_Also rising._] I'd better go.

[_PETER is making frantic efforts to swallow the tablet._

GEOFFREY. [_Noticing him._] What's the matter with you?

PETER. O dear! I've eaten so many ices and fancy cakes, I've got awful
indigestion, and I'm trying to swallow a charcoal tablet.

RUTH. Come with me and get a glass of water.

PETER. No, it's very bad to drink water with your meals; but I'll get a
piece of bridesmaid's cake--that'll push it down!

[_PETER and RUTH go out through the double doors._

[_The moment they are out of the room, MAGGIE comes from behind the
curtain and goes straight up to GEOFFREY. He looks astonished and
frightened._

GEOFFREY. What do you want? Have you been listening?

MAGGIE. So t