Why Marry? - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
LUCY
Yes, the musicians are to be stationed in the library.
JUDGE
Excellent, excellent. [_Indicates tables and festoons._] All that junk will help, too. A good Sunday supper this evening, Lucy; your best champagne, John--gay spirits, family affection, warm approval, toasts to the future. Why, all we'll have to do is--[_Breaks off._] Here they come. Now follow my lead. They've done a lot of thinking since you saw them last, but--make one misstep and it's all off.
LUCY
Be nice to her, John. It was just a girlish impulse.
[_JOHN opens arms to receive HELEN._
JOHN
My sister! All is forgiven.
HELEN
[_stops short, her lip curls_]
_You_ forgive _me_?
[_Before JOHN can reply, THEODORE and ERNEST follow, talking._
ERNEST
But I tell you he had a perfect right to put me off his property. The thing I can't overlook--[_Sees JOHN and LUCY. Points finger at them accusingly._] Theodore has told me what you thought.... Please don't judge us by yourselves again--you licentious-minded married people!
[_He shrugs his shoulders with fastidious disgust and turns his back upon them._
JOHN
[_gasping_]
Well, I'll be d.a.m.ned.
JUDGE
[_whispers_]
Stand for it--he's right.
THEODORE
But Ernest ... I'm bound to say when two people run away together----
ERNEST
Ah, Theodore! you, too? Are all married people alike? Did we want to "run away" as you call it? Did we not ask for a week to think it over?
Did we not stipulate that in any case we must frankly face the family first? But this person--what did he do? he ordered us off his property, like trespa.s.sers! What could we do? Sit down in the road and wait a week? Bah! we went home--you suspicious married people, you hypocritical, unspeakable married people! [_JUDGE has difficulty in restraining JOHN._] Why, I believe our good friend the Judge here is the only decent-minded, properly married person on your property.
JOHN
[_bursting out_]
Decent-minded--why, he's div----
[_LUCY stops him._
JUDGE
[_steps in_]
Dev-oted to his wife. Lucy is jealous of what I'm doing for my wife.
[_Controls laughter._] Now come, we must all just let bygones be bygones. We know your intentions are honorable, your courage admirable; and for whatever was amiss in word, deed, or thought, we all humbly apologize--don't we, John? [_JOHN bows uncomfortably._] Lucy? Theodore?
And now I want you all to tell Ernest and Helen what you told me--that their arguments against marriage are unanswerable, their logic unimpeachable, and we no longer have the slightest intention or desire to get them divorced by matrimony. [_JOHN, THEODORE, and LUCY look dubious. JUDGE crosses over and pinches them. HELEN and ERNEST are utterly bewildered._] Why, we wouldn't let a little thing like marriage come between them for the world, would we, John? would we, Lucy? would we, Theodore?
JOHN
[_with an effort_]
I agree with Uncle Everett entirely.
JUDGE
And you, Theodore?
THEODORE
[_in a low voice_]
Perfectly.
