ssed your telegram till too late to go to your
house to-night!" So--you and she went to Brooklyn, did you, and that's
why you came back too late to go to the theatre with me? You _cheat_!
[_She screams in her madness. A pause._] Why don't you answer--why don't
you say something?

AUSTIN. Because if I speak as I feel, I'm afraid of saying something
I'll regret all my life!

JINNY. You don't deny, then?

AUSTIN. Yes! that is due to Ruth. Whatever you may feel about _me_, you
have no _right_ to _insult_ her!

JINNY. Oh, _there's more to_ the letter!

AUSTIN. Jinny, don't you see what you're doing?

JINNY. Yes, I'm getting at the truth at last! [_Reads._] "My heart aches
for the blow you must have this evening! The man who loves you--"

AUSTIN. You shan't read any more; you're mad now!

[_Tearing the letter away from her._

JINNY. I don't need the letter, the words are burning in here!
[_Pressing her hands to her forehead._] "The man who loves you isn't
bad, only weak. However, I feel once we can shake off the burden of
_this present marriage_"--oh! you--you _brute_ to say that!--"you will
never have cause to complain of him again! So far I have been able to
keep Jinny in perfect ignorance, but I feel the blow must fall upon her
now--"

[_Interrupted._

AUSTIN. Shall I tell you _the truth_?

JINNY. You don't have to; I've found it out for myself!

AUSTIN. [_In weariness, in disgust, in utter hopelessness._] No! what's
the use. You've done it now--let it go! Let it all go--the whole thing!
What's the use!--it's finished!-- [_A knock on the door at Right._] Come
in!

[_Maggie enters and closes the door behind her._

MAGGIE. Please, sir, Miss Chester came upstairs and made me knock again
to see if there was an answer and if you will see her now or not.

JINNY. [_Suddenly--aflame with her idea._] Yes! Maggie, show her in!

AUSTIN. No, no! What do you want to do! I'll see Miss Chester to-morrow,
Maggie.

[_JINNY has crossed to the door, Right._

JINNY. Ruth! Ruth!

RUTH. [_Off stage._] Yes? May I come?

JINNY. _Do_ come in!

[_She recrosses room; she and AUSTIN face each other for a second._

AUSTIN. [_In a lowered voice._] For God's sake, be careful!

[_RUTH enters Right._

RUTH. Jinny!

[_Going to her quickly to embrace her._

[_JINNY, without speaking, draws away and stares at her with a look
of hatred. RUTH, seeing it, stops short, and looks from JINNY to
AUSTIN for ex