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.
Pages:
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112