n better than you and father and Geoffrey--all together!

[_In her mother's arms, crying a little._

MRS. TILLMAN. Oh, this curse of jealousy! I was in hopes he was so
strong he would help you to overcome it.

JINNY. He does try hard, I can see sometimes; but he hasn't a spark of
it in him, and he can't understand it, and I know I'm unreasonable, and
before I know it I am saying things I don't know what, and some day he
won't forgive them! I'm sure some day he won't!--

[_Breaking down again._

[_She rises and turns away._

MRS. TILLMAN. [_Rising and putting her arms about her._] Come, dear! Now
you're getting yourself all unstrung, and that won't do you any good;
you've got to fight this battle out, I'm afraid, by yourself, trusting
in the deep love of your husband to teach him forbearance. Your father's
and my troubles were never very big because we _shared_ the curse, so we
knew how to sympathize with each other!

JINNY. What an awful thing it is!

MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, my dear child. Jealousy has no saving grace, and it
only destroys what is always most precious to you. Jinny, don't let it
destroy _your best_ happiness!

JINNY. Mother, if it _should_, I'd kill myself!

MRS. TILLMAN. [_Shocked, but quite disbelieving her._] My dear!

[_MAGGIE enters Right._

MAGGIE. Mr. Tillman is downstairs, madam.

MRS. TILLMAN. Tell him to come up.

MAGGIE. Yes, madam.

[_She goes out Right._

JINNY. Don't tell father anything before me.

MRS. TILLMAN. I don't know that I shall tell him at all; he would only
advise more cigars!

[_TILLMAN enters Right._

[_MRS. TILLMAN sits on the sofa at Left._

TILLMAN. Are you here?

JINNY. [_Going to meet him._] We are, father dear, and your presence
_almost_ completes us. [_Kisses him._] I say _almost_, because Jack
hasn't come up town yet, and Geoffrey's heartless enough to stay on
fishing at Cape Cod!

TILLMAN. No, he isn't; he's back to-day.

[_He sits in the arm-chair at Right._

JINNY. Oh, I do want to see him!

[_Sitting near her father._

TILLMAN. He ought to have been in by now--I met them this morning. He
was to lunch with Jack, and he's going to put up for a few days at the
University.

JINNY. He must dine with us every night.

TILLMAN. Jinny!-- [_Looking at her._] --You look as if you've been
crying!

[_The two WOMEN are embarrassed, and JINNY doesn't reply._

TILLMAN. [_Hurt._] Oh, if you prefer to have secrets from your fa