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STERLING. But you _will_ stay?
[LEONARD _enters from Left._
LEONARD. Miss G.o.desby, Mr. Warden.
[_They enter._
[_All greet each other._ WARDEN _nods stiffly to_ STERLING, _barely acknowledging his greeting._
MISS G.o.dESBY. [_To_ STERLING, _purposely speaking with good-humored raillery to relieve the tension of the situation._] Well, you're a nice lot, aren't you?
STERLING. I'm so ashamed! I'm so ashamed!
MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, never mind that now.
BLANCHE. I have no words to thank you with.
MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, that's all right. The truth is, I've made Warden bring me here, Sterling, for a bit of business. I had an emotional moment yesterday and went off my head a bit. I stand by what I said as to keeping quiet, but--well, I'm like any other old maid who hates dust on her mantelpiece--I'm fidgety not to make some sort of a bluff at putting this thing on a business basis.
WARDEN. Excuse me, Miss G.o.desby, I think Sterling ought to know the truth.
STERLING. _Now_ what?
MISS G.o.dESBY. Well, the truth is, my fool of a brother has kicked up an infernal row, and refuses to hold his tongue.
STERLING. Then I'm ruined after all!
MISS G.o.dESBY. Wait, I've left him with Mr. Mason. I feel certain I can a.s.sure his silence if I can only show him some sort of an agreement to pay, an acknowledgment of the--the--affair, signed and sealed.
BLANCHE. Signed by whom?
MISS G.o.dESBY. Your husband and yourself will do.
STERLING. But both names are worthless.
MISS G.o.dESBY. Not as a point of honor.
STERLING. Ah! no, not my wife's.
MISS G.o.dESBY. Nor yours to me. Come along!
[_She goes to the table with_ STERLING, _and unfolding a paper gives it to him. He signs it._
WARDEN. [_Aside to_ BLANCHE, _apologizing for his presence._] She made me come--she wouldn't come alone; otherwise I should have waited till you sent for me.
BLANCHE. It's as well--I've decided. Oh, I wonder if I'm doing wrong.
[_Looking him straight in the face._
WARDEN. [_Looking back searchingly in hers to read the truth, but believing that she will certainly leave her husband._] No, _you_ can't do wrong! But I must warn you of one thing--I'm not any longer the controlled man I was.
MISS G.o.dESBY. Come along now, Mrs. Sterling, brace up and give me your name, and Warden, witness, please. [_They do so._] Of course, my dears, I know perfectly well that legally this isn't worth the paper it's written on. [_Exchanging a serious and meaning look with_ WARDEN.] But my idiot of a brother won't realize that, which is the point. One thing more--will you both dine with me next week, Thursday? [_There is an embarra.s.sed pause, which, with quick intuition, she understands._] Yes, you _will_--for _silence_ gives consent! [_Laughing._] Now, that's settled!
STERLING. What an awfully good sort you are!
MISS G.o.dESBY. Thanks, not always--I've been a mucker more than once in my life! I must go [_Shaking hands with_ BLANCHE.] and relieve Mr. Mason of my brother, or he'll be accusing me of inhuman treatment; more than one consecutive hour of my brother ought to be prevented by the police.
BLANCHE. You are very, _very_ good.
MISS G.o.dESBY. I think if you and I can get well over this, we'll be real friends, and I haven't many, have you?
BLANCHE. [_Takes her hand._] You can count upon me and my boy so long as we live.
[_She impulsively but tenderly kisses her._
[MISS G.o.dESBY _is very much surprised, but moved._
MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Half laughing, half crying, and pulling her veil down to hide her emotion._] By George! I haven't been kissed by a woman for years! Good-by.
[WARDEN _starts to go out with_ MISS G.o.dESBY. BLANCHE _stops him._
BLANCHE. Wait one moment--I want to speak alone to Miss G.o.desby.
[MISS G.o.dESBY _goes out Left._
BLANCHE. [_Aside to_ STERLING.] You tell him; I cannot. Tell him the _truth_.
[_She goes out after_ MISS G.o.dESBY.
WARDEN. d.i.c.k.
STERLING. Ned?
WARDEN. I have nothing to say to you, Sterling.
[WARDEN _looks away and whistles a tune to show his unwillingness to listen._ STERLING _speaks clearly so_ WARDEN _shall hear._
STERLING. I have a message for you from my wife. [_There is a second's pause._ WARDEN _stops whistling and turns and looks at_ STERLING.] She asks me to explain--to tell--to tell you a decision she has come to.
[_There is another pause._
WARDEN. Yes?
[_Anxious, at a supreme tension, and now a little alarmed as to the decision._
STERLING. She has decided not to leave my house.
WARDEN. [_Adds._] _Yet!_
