The Girl with the Green Eyes Part 8

AUSTIN. How are you going to do it?

GEOFFREY. I must make money somehow and buy off Maggie.

AUSTIN. Yes, go out to Sioux Falls, get a divorce there on respectable grounds, and settle a sum of money on Maggie.

GEOFFREY. But I can't do that!

AUSTIN. Why not?

GEOFFREY. I can't do anything that would give publicity, and that divorce would.

AUSTIN. Any divorce would; you can't get rid of that.

GEOFFREY. I tell you I can't have publicity. Ruth--Miss Chester--would hear of it.

AUSTIN. Well, if she loves you, she'll forgive your wild oats, especially as every one sees now what a steady, straight fellow you've become.

GEOFFREY. It's Ruth! But I can't do that. No, Jack, you must help--you will, won't you? Oh, _do_, for Jinny's sake! Help me to persuade Maggie to keep silent for good, tear up that certificate of marriage. I was only twenty; it's hardly legal, and I'll settle a good sum--

[_Interrupted._

AUSTIN. [_Going straight to him, puts his hand heavily on his shoulder._] Good G.o.d, you're proposing bigamy! You've done enough; don't stoop to _crime_!

[_The two MEN face each other a moment. GEOFFREY'S head drops._

AUSTIN. Forget you ever said that; do what I tell you when Jinny and I have gone abroad, so she will be away from it a little, and if you want money, let me know.

[_JINNY enters Right, with nervous gaiety, covering an upheaving emotion which is very near the surface._

JINNY. Ready! And there _you_ are, Geof. I've been sending all over the house after you! Good-by! [_Throwing her arms about him._] Dear old Geof! Haven't we had good times together! Always, always from the youngest days I can remember--I don't believe there were ever a brother and sister so sympathetic; I know there was never a brother such a perfect darling as you were--I'll miss you, Geof! [_The tears come into her voice, anyway._] I used to think I'd never marry at all if I couldn't marry _you_, and I _do_ think _he_ is the only man in the world who could have taken me away from home, so long as you were there! [_To AUSTIN, smiling._] You aren't jealous?

AUSTIN. No!

JINNY. [_In jest._] Isn't it awful! You can't _make_ him jealous! I think it's a positive flaw in his character! Not like--_us_, is he?

GEOFFREY. Dear old girl--

JINNY. [_Whispers to him._] And I've noticed how you've overcome certain things, dear Geof. I know it's been _hard_, and I'm proud of you.

GEOFFREY. s.h.!.+ Jinny, dear old sister! I'll miss _you_! By George, Jin, the house'll be awful without--but you-- [_His voice grows husky._]

--just excuse me a minute!

[_He is about to break down, and so hurries out Right._

JINNY. [_Sniffling._] He was going to cry! Oh, Jack, you'll be a brother to Geoffrey, won't you? You know he's been awfully dissipated, and he's changed it all, all by himself! _If he should go wrong again_--I believe it would break my heart, I love him so!

AUSTIN. I'll do _more_ for him, if he ever needs me, than if he were _my own_ brother, because he's _yours_!

JINNY. [_Presses his hand and looks up at him lovingly and gratefully._]

Thank you. Wait here just a minute; I know he won't come back to say good-by. He's gone up to his room, I'm sure--I'll just surprise him with a hug and my hands over his eyes like we used to do years ago.

[_She starts to go out Right, and meets MR. and MRS. TILLMAN, who enter._

TILLMAN. The carriage is here!

JINNY. I won't be a second--

[_She goes out Right._

MRS. TILLMAN. Where has she gone?

AUSTIN. Up to her brother.

MRS. TILLMAN. Her father's been locked up in his study for three hours--he _says_ thinking, but to _me_ his eyes look very suspicious!

[_Taking her husband's arm affectionately._

TILLMAN. [_Clears his throat._] Nonsense!

MRS. TILLMAN. Well, _how many cigars did you smoke_?

TILLMAN. Eight.

MRS. TILLMAN. The amount of emotion that a man can soak out of himself with tobacco is wonderful! He uses it just like a sponge!

TILLMAN. Jack, the first thing I asked about you when I heard that--er--that things were getting this way was, does he smoke? A man who smokes has always that outlet. If things go wrong--go out and smoke a cigar, and when the cigar's _finished_, ten to one everything's got right, somehow! If you lose your temper, don't speak!--a cigar, and when it's finished, then speak! You'll find the temper all gone up in the smoke! A woman's happiness is safest with a man who smokes. [_He clears his throat, which is filling._] G.o.d bless you, Jack, it _is_ a wrench; our only girl, you know. She's been a great joy--ahem!

[_He quickly gets out a cigar._

MRS. TILLMAN. [_Stopping him from smoking._] No, no, dear, they're _going now_!

TILLMAN. Well, the best I can say is, I wish you as happy a married life as her mother and I have had.

MRS. TILLMAN. Thirty-five _dear_ years! But now, George, let me say a word--you always have monopolized our new son--he'll be much fonder of you than _me_!

TILLMAN. Old lady!--Jealous!--

MRS. TILLMAN. Turn about is fair play--you're jealous still of Jinny and me. [_She pauses a moment._] I think we'd better tell him!

TILLMAN. All right. The only rifts in our lute, Jack, have been little threads of jealousy that have snapped sometimes!

MRS. TILLMAN. Nothing ever serious--of course, _but_ it's a fault that Jinny shares with us, and the _only fault_ we've ever been able to find.

TILLMAN. We called her for years the girl with the green eyes. She goes it pretty _strong_ sometimes!

AUSTIN. Oh, that's all right--I shall _like_ it!

MRS. TILLMAN. You'll always bear with her, won't you, if she should ever get jealous of you?