y.

JINNY. [_Who wanted him to call her to him and kiss her._] Oh, very
well! but I'll _make_ you smile yet and _kiss_ me of your own accord
to-night--you'll see!

[_She goes out Left._

[_She is heard singing in her room. AUSTIN goes to the desk and after a
long sigh he begins to write._]

AUSTIN. [_Writing._] Dear Ruth. The satisfaction of the visit to
Brooklyn prevents me from being disappointed at having missed your
telegram till too late to go to your house to-night. My heart aches for
the blow you must have this evening, but please God you will bear it
bravely. The man who loves you is not bad, but he has been weak.
However, I feel once he can shake off the burden of his present
marriage, you will never have cause to complain of him again. And if
your future happiness lies truly in his hands, it will be safe there.

JINNY. [_Calls from her room._] Are you ready?

AUSTIN. Yes.

[_He stops writing._

JINNY. In your orchestra chair?

AUSTIN. Yes.

JINNY. What will you have, tragedy or comedy?

AUSTIN. [_Smiling._] Shall we begin with tragedy?

JINNY. All right.

AUSTIN. [_Continues to write._] So far I have been able to keep Jinny in
absolute ignorance, but I fear the blow must fall upon her soon, and I
dread to think of what she, too, will suffer. Help me to keep it from
her as long as we can, won't you?

[_JINNY comes back; she has changed her dress to a loose negligee
gown, with a red turban on her head; she brings two sheets with her._

JINNY. Excuse me one minute while I set the stage! [_Moving toward each
other the big arm-chair and the sofa, she covers them with the sheets.
AUSTIN turns from his letter on the desk, to watch._] Uncle Tom's Cabin,
Act Four! [_She goes out only for a moment, and reenters, wearing a
man's overcoat, with a pillow tied in the middle with a silk scarf,
eyes, nose, and mouth made on it with a burnt match._] Eliza crossing
the ice! Come, honey darling! [_To the pillow._] Mammy'll save you from
de wicked white man! [_Jumping up on the sofa, and moving with the
springs._] _You_ ought to do the bloodhounds for me, Jack! Excuse me,
but you look the part! [_AUSTIN watches her, not unamused, but without
smiling._] Hold tight to Lize, honey, and don't be afeerd o' dat big
black man over dah--dat's Uncle Tom. [_Crossing to the arm-chair._]
Don't be afeerd, honey; it's Lize dat's cuttin' de ice this time. [_She
throws the pillow away and drags off the two sheets._] O