JINNY. Oh, _Jack_!

AUSTIN. What is it?

JINNY. Nothing!

[_She sinks by the desk, crushing the letter in her hand. She looks over at him, and then down at the letter, and then back at him._

AUSTIN. Maggie!

JINNY. [_Rising suddenly. She speaks with a voice trembling with only half-contained emotion and pa.s.sion._] I told her to wait in the hall; may I read it?

[_Holding out her hand for the letter._

AUSTIN. Now look here, Jinny,--I always let you read everything, don't I?

JINNY. [_Hiding his letter behind her back._] Yes. [_Holding out her other hand._] Give it to me!

AUSTIN. Now begin to show that you really are going to turn over a new leaf, and that your love is going to have perfect confidence, and don't ask to see this letter.

JINNY. But I _do_ ask to see it!

AUSTIN. Then this time I must refuse you!

JINNY. What! is it even more compromising than _your_ letter to her?

AUSTIN. What letter? [_Looking first on the desk, he looks across at her and sees it in her hand. He is angry, but also frightened for fear it has told her her brother's secret._] And you've read it?

JINNY. It lay open on the desk there, and anyway the end justifies me!

AUSTIN. [_In an agony._] What does it tell you? I forget what I wrote!

JINNY. It tells me that my jealousy all along has been right, that I've been a fool to let you blind me!

AUSTIN. [_With a great sigh of relief._] Is that all?

JINNY. [_Beside herself._] "Is that all!" Isn't that enough? Dear G.o.d, isn't that enough? That there's an understanding between you and Ruth to get rid of _me_!

AUSTIN. If it tells you that, the letter lies! Give it to me!

JINNY. No! _I'll_ read it to you! [_Reads with bitter emphasis._] "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!" So--you and she went to Brooklyn, did you, and that's why you came back too late to go to the theatre with me? You _cheat_!

[_She screams in her madness. A pause._] Why don't you answer--why don't you say something?

AUSTIN. Because if I speak as I feel, I'm afraid of saying something I'll regret all my life!

JINNY. You don't deny, then?

AUSTIN. Yes! that is due to Ruth. Whatever you may feel about _me_, you have no _right_ to _insult_ her!

JINNY. Oh, _there's more to_ the letter!

AUSTIN. Jinny, don't you see what you're doing?

JINNY. Yes, I'm getting at the truth at last! [_Reads._] "My heart aches for the blow you must have this evening! The man who loves you--"

AUSTIN. You shan't read any more; you're mad now!

[_Tearing the letter away from her._

JINNY. I don't need the letter, the words are burning in here!

[_Pressing her hands to her forehead._] "The man who loves you isn't bad, only weak. However, I feel once we can shake off the burden of _this present marriage_"--oh! you--you _brute_ to say that!--"you will never have cause to complain of him again! So far I have been able to keep Jinny in perfect ignorance, but I feel the blow must fall upon her now--"

[_Interrupted._

AUSTIN. Shall I tell you _the truth_?

JINNY. You don't have to; I've found it out for myself!

AUSTIN. [_In weariness, in disgust, in utter hopelessness._] No! what's the use. You've done it now--let it go! Let it all go--the whole thing!

What's the use!--it's finished!-- [_A knock on the door at Right._] Come in!

[_Maggie enters and closes the door behind her._

MAGGIE. Please, sir, Miss Chester came upstairs and made me knock again to see if there was an answer and if you will see her now or not.

JINNY. [_Suddenly--aflame with her idea._] Yes! Maggie, show her in!

AUSTIN. No, no! What do you want to do! I'll see Miss Chester to-morrow, Maggie.

[_JINNY has crossed to the door, Right._

JINNY. Ruth! Ruth!

RUTH. [_Off stage._] Yes? May I come?

JINNY. _Do_ come in!

[_She recrosses room; she and AUSTIN face each other for a second._

AUSTIN. [_In a lowered voice._] For G.o.d's sake, be careful!

[_RUTH enters Right._

RUTH. Jinny!

[_Going to her quickly to embrace her._

[_JINNY, without speaking, draws away and stares at her with a look of hatred. RUTH, seeing it, stops short, and looks from JINNY to AUSTIN for explanation--she turns to AUSTIN and gives him her hand, which he takes, presses, and drops; JINNY'S shoulders contract at this moment; RUTH immediately turns again to JINNY._

RUTH. What is it, Jinny? [_To AUSTIN._] Surely she doesn't blame _me_ in any way.