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. [_Embarra.s.sed._] 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! Thanks!

AUSTIN. Oh, Jinny! I _did_! Forgive me! I'm awfully sorry! I've got a lot on my mind to-day.

[_Tries to put his arms about her and kiss her. She pushes herself away from him, refusing to let him kiss her._

JINNY. Yes--I know you have-- [_At door Left._] --I'll leave you two to your confidences. You can trust Geof; he just now refused to betray you.

[_AUSTIN only looks at her fixedly, seriously. She looks back at him with bravado. Then she deliberately crosses the room, gets the cable, and recrosses with it and goes out Left._

AUSTIN. Poor Jinny! [_Turning to GEOFFREY._] and that, too, lies largely on your already overcrowded shoulders.

GEOFFREY. [_Breaking down._] I know! I know!

AUSTIN. [_Sitting in the corner of the sofa._] Here, don't cry! You've got to be strong now, and you've no use nor time for crying. I've had another long interview with the Brooklyn minister.

GEOFFREY. Yes?--

AUSTIN. [_Drawing a chair near to him and sitting._] Well, of course we both know that he's doing wrong to keep silent, but he will. He wishes I hadn't told him, because he thinks he'd never have noticed your divorce from Maggie when it was granted--nor remembered your name if he had seen it in the papers.

GEOFFREY. That's what I _told_ you!

AUSTIN. _You_ only argued that for fear I'd insist on _your_ going to this minister yourself. But in the bottom of your heart you know it was a risk we couldn't afford to run. I've explained everything to him--how such a fine, sweet girl would suffer if he did expose you, and I gave him my word you would be remarried to Ruth at once after the divorce. Of course we both know it's wrong, but we both hope the end justifies the means that removes difficulty number two.

GEOFFREY. You're sure about Maggie?

AUSTIN. She's signed a paper; she realizes you'll never live with her, and--it's pathetic--she loves you--that girl, too--so much as to give you your freedom--Good Lord! what is it about you weak men that wins women so? What is it in _you_ that has made two women love _you_ to such a self-sacrificing extent?

GEOFFREY. [_Half tragic, half comic laugh._] I give it up!

AUSTIN. [_Bitterly._] So do I. Well, Maggie is to have six hundred dollars a year.

GEOFFREY. Where'll I get it?

AUSTIN. We'll talk about that when the time comes. [_He rises._] _Now_ the most important, the most painful, task of all must be done and _you_ must do it. _Not I this time--you!_

GEOFFREY. [_Looking up, frightened._] What?

AUSTIN. Ruth Chester landed this morning.

GEOFFREY. [_Starting up._] Impossible!

[_Rising._

AUSTIN. The moment Maggie signed my paper I cabled Miss Chester to return. You can't go out west and inst.i.tute proceedings for divorce without her _knowing the whole truth from you_ first! You don't want her to find it out from the newspapers, do you?

GEOFFREY. And you want _me_ to tell her?

AUSTIN. _To-day._ And to-morrow you start west!

GEOFFREY. [_Facing AUSTIN._] I _won't_ tell her!