o myself out loud? It's really
nothing--Jack will _explain_ once more that he _can't_ explain, but that
Ruth has "troubles," and I'll believe him again! But I won't! He
promised me she should stay over there! [_Looks at her watch again._]
He's there, with her! _Nothing ever_ kept him half as late down town as
this! What a little fool I am!

[_GEOFFREY enters suddenly Right._

JINNY. [_Cries out, joyfully._] Geoffrey! [_And rushing to him, embraces
him._] You brute, you, not to come straight back to New York when you
heard I was home! You dear old darling, you!

GEOFFREY. I couldn't, old girl; there were reasons--I don't have to tell
you I wanted to.

JINNY. I don't know! Was there a pretty girl up there, Geof? I'm sure I
shouldn't think her pretty if you were in love with her. I believe I
shall be awfully jealous of your wife when you get one!

GEOFFREY. Rubbish! Hasn't Jack come back yet?

JINNY. "Come back" from where?

GEOFFREY. Brooklyn.

JINNY. Brooklyn! Why, he told me--what did he go there for?

GEOFFREY. [_Embarrassed._] I don't know if you don't--

JINNY. You _do_!!

GEOFFREY. No--really--I--

JINNY. Oh, it's something to be concealed, then?

GEOFFREY. Hang it, Jinny! drop the subject. I thought he said he was
going to Brooklyn; probably I was mistaken.

JINNY. [_Satirically._] One is so apt to think just casually that every
one's going to Brooklyn! [_Looks at her watch._] Of course it's
Brooklyn. [_Goes and looks at the telegram; turns._] So you're going
back on _me_, too, are you? You're going to _protect Jack_ at _my_
expense!

[_AUSTIN enters Right._

AUSTIN. [_Absorbed._] Good evening, Jinny dear.

JINNY. It's after seven!

AUSTIN. [_Pleasantly._] Is it? Have you been waiting long, Geoffrey?

GEOFFREY. No, I've only just now come in.

JINNY. It's _I_ who have done the waiting!

AUSTIN. I'm sorry, but it couldn't be helped.

JINNY. You didn't tell me you were going to Brooklyn.

AUSTIN. [_After a quick, sharp look at Geoffrey, who shakes his head
once emphatically._] It must have escaped my mind.

JINNY. That's very likely! Going to Brooklyn's the sort of thing one
talks about and dreads for days.

AUSTIN. Well, Jinny, that will bear postponement, and my conversation
with Geoffrey won't; will you please leave us together here for a while?

JINNY. And what about the theatre?

AUSTIN. What theatre?

JINNY. Oh, you've _forgotten_ entirely my little birthday party! Thank