[_Questioningly._

AUSTIN. [_Quietly._] Good-by.

JINNY. [_Who wanted him to call her to him and kiss her._] Oh, very well! but I'll _make_ you smile yet and _kiss_ me of your own accord to-night--you'll see!

[_She goes out Left._

[_She is heard singing in her room. AUSTIN goes to the desk and after a long sigh he begins to write._]

AUSTIN. [_Writing._] Dear Ruth. The satisfaction of the visit to Brooklyn prevents me from being disappointed at having missed your telegram till too late to go to your house to-night. My heart aches for the blow you must have this evening, but please G.o.d 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.

AUSTIN turns from his letter on the desk, to watch._] Uncle Tom's Cabin, Act Four! [_She goes out only for a moment, and reenters, wearing a man's overcoat, with a pillow tied in the middle with a silk scarf, eyes, nose, and mouth made on it with a burnt match._] Eliza crossing the ice! Come, honey darling! [_To the pillow._] Mammy'll save you from de wicked white man! [_Jumping up on the sofa, and moving with the springs._] _You_ ought to do the bloodhounds for me, Jack! Excuse me, but you look the part! [_AUSTIN watches her, not unamused, but without smiling._] Hold tight to Lize, honey, and don't be afeerd o' dat big black man over dah--dat's Uncle Tom. [_Crossing to the arm-chair._]

Don't be afeerd, honey; it's Lize dat's cuttin' de ice this time. [_She throws the pillow away and drags off the two sheets._] Oh, I can see this is too serious for you!

[_She starts singing a cakewalk and dances across the room until she reaches him, where she finishes._

AUSTIN. Very good, Jinny! I'm sure we couldn't have seen better at the theatre.

JINNY. Ah! You're getting yourself again!--Darling! Come!--Come!--come to the pianola and you shall have the s.e.xtette! It's in there ready; I heard mother struggling with it. You don't suppose she has designs upon the Casino, do you? Now--ready?

[_He goes to the pianola and starts to play the s.e.xtette from "Florodora." She runs to the opposite side of the room and begins to sing and dance, crossing to AUSTIN as he plays._

AUSTIN. [_After a few moments._] But I can't see you and play at the same time; I don't like it!

JINNY. [_Delighted._] You _want to see me_, do you?

AUSTIN. Of course I do!

JINNY. Jack! [_Delighted._] Well, then, turn round!

[_JINNY, hurrying the time of the song, turns it into a regular skirt dance. She dances delightfully and AUSTIN cannot resist her charm.

His face lightens, he smiles, and love comes into his eyes. JINNY sees and dances and sings all the better till she reaches him._

AUSTIN. [_Rising, he takes her into his arms._] You adorable Jinny!

JINNY. Ah, Jack! You're smiling again and--_you love me_!

[_Clasping her arms about his neck._

AUSTIN. Yes! Is the theatre finished?

JINNY. No, only the first act. [_He sits in the big arm-chair, JINNY on his knee._] I'm _tired_! [_He kisses her. There is a pause. There is a knock on the door at Right._] Oh, hang it! [_Knock repeated._] _Don't_ answer it! We haven't half made up yet!

AUSTIN. But we must answer it, dear.

JINNY. [_As she rises unwillingly._] I don't see why--I should have let her knock till she went away.

AUSTIN. Come in!

[_MAGGIE enters with a letter._

JINNY. What is it, Maggie?

MAGGIE. A note from Miss Chester, m'm, and she's downstairs herself waiting for an answer.

JINNY. For _me_?

[_Taking the letter._

MAGGIE. No, m'm; I think she said it was for _Mr._ Austin.

JINNY. _Oh!_--You may wait outside for the answer, Maggie.

MAGGIE. Yes, m'm.

[_She goes out._

JINNY. [_Slowly goes to AUSTIN and gives him the letter, lightly._] I see now why you were so anxious to let Maggie in. Perhaps you were expecting this.

AUSTIN. Jinny! [_Holding her by the hand and trying to pull her over to him._] Come, I'll give you a kiss for the letter.

JINNY. No, thank you, I don't want kisses that are given by you for letters from Ruth Chester. Yes! do kiss me! [_He kisses her._] I _won't_ be jealous! _I won't be!_ [_Clinching her teeth._] See, I'm not jealous a bit! Read your old letter!

[_AUSTIN opens the note and reads it. As he does so JINNY has pa.s.sed on to the desk and sees AUSTIN'S unfinished letter to RUTH, which after a little hesitation she picks up and reads. AUSTIN, having read RUTH'S note, looks up thoughtfully a second, and then re-reads it.

JINNY is furious over what she reads. As she finishes she gives a little cry from the very depths of her heart._