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 embarra.s.sed, and JINNY doesn't reply._

TILLMAN. [_Hurt._] Oh, if you prefer to have secrets from your father, it's all right! _I don't begrudge_ your mother her _first place_ in your affections!

JINNY. Not at all, father; with you and mother there's no first place.

She will tell you all about it on the way home! Please, mother.

MRS. TILLMAN. Very well, dear.

TILLMAN. A little "sc.r.a.p" between you and Jack?

JINNY. Yes, but it's all over!

TILLMAN. Um!-- [_Thinks a second, then taking out his cigar case, he empties it of cigars and hands them to JINNY._] Give your husband these, please, when he comes in!

[_JINNY and her MOTHER exchange a smile._

JINNY. But, father, Jack's got boxes full--

TILLMAN. Never mind; give him those, _from me, with my compliments_!

JINNY. [_Laughing._] Very well!

TILLMAN. How are you and Maggie getting on?

JINNY. Splendidly.

MRS. TILLMAN. Such a nice girl!

JINNY. And wasn't it odd Jack was bitterly opposed to my taking her?

MRS. TILLMAN. My dear, if we hadn't lent her to you for these few weeks, you wouldn't have got anybody decent for so short a time.

TILLMAN. Why didn't Jack want her to come?

JINNY. I don't know, he just didn't want her; and then last week he talked with her in the library for three-quarters of an hour by my watch.

MRS. TILLMAN. Why?

JINNY. Oh, it seems _she_ has troubles, too! All single young women with troubles, of no matter what cla.s.s, seem to make a bee line for my husband, even if they have to cross the ocean!

TILLMAN. What do you mean?

JINNY. [_Half laughing._] Oh, nothing, but it was about that talk with Maggie that we had our last quarrel.

[_MAGGIE enters Right._

MAGGIE. Mrs. Cullingham.

[_A second's dead silence, the announcement falling like a bombsh.e.l.l._

JINNY. [_Astounded._] _Who?_

[_She rises._

TILLMAN AND MRS. TILLMAN. _Who?_