enters Left. He doesn't see MAGGIE, who is
collapsed in a corner of the sofa._

GEOFFREY. [_To AUSTIN._] Ah! Thank goodness I've caught you; I had an
awful headache and went out for a breath of air, and then I was afraid I
might have missed you! I knew in that case Jinny would never forgive me,
nor--I--myself--for that--matter--

[_His voice grows less exuberant in the middle of his speech and
finally at the end almost dies away, as he sees the expression in
AUSTIN'S face and realizes that something is wrong somewhere. When
he stops speaking, MAGGIE gives a gasping sob. He hears it, and
starting, sees her._

GEOFFREY. Maggie!

AUSTIN. Geoffrey, is what this girl says true?

GEOFFREY. That I married her in New Haven? Yes.

MAGGIE. [_Rises._] I'll go, please, I'd rather go.

AUSTIN. Yes, go, Maggie; it's better.

[_MAGGIE goes out Right._

GEOFFREY. [_As soon as she is out of the room._] Promise me, Jack, you
won't tell any one! It's awful, I know! For two years at college I went
all to pieces and led a rotten life,--and one night, drunk, I married
her, and it isn't so much her fault. I suppose she thought I loved
her,--but this would break up the old lady and gentleman so, if they
knew, I couldn't stand it! And Jinny, for God's sake, don't tell Jinny.
_She respects me._ You won't tell her, will you?

AUSTIN. No. But Maggie says you want to marry some one else now.

GEOFFREY. [_With a change, in great shame._] That's true, too.

[_He sits in utter dejection on the sofa._

AUSTIN. How are you going to do it?

GEOFFREY. I must make money somehow and buy off Maggie.

AUSTIN. Yes, go out to Sioux Falls, get a divorce there on respectable
grounds, and settle a sum of money on Maggie.

GEOFFREY. But I can't do that!

AUSTIN. Why not?

GEOFFREY. I can't do anything that would give publicity, and that
divorce would.

AUSTIN. Any divorce would; you can't get rid of that.

GEOFFREY. I tell you I can't have publicity. Ruth--Miss Chester--would
hear of it.

AUSTIN. Well, if she loves you, she'll forgive your wild oats,
especially as every one sees now what a steady, straight fellow you've
become.

GEOFFREY. It's Ruth! But I can't do that. No, Jack, you must help--you
will, won't you? Oh, _do_, for Jinny's sake! Help me to persuade Maggie
to keep silent for good, tear up that certificate of marriage. I was
only twenty; it's hardly legal, and I'll settle a good sum--

[_Interrupted._