Plays by Susan Glaspell Part 38

FUSSIE: Well, I'll _tell_ you something. I heard Professor Holden say Madeline Morton has a great deal more mind than she'd let herself know.

HORACE: Oh, well--Holden, he's erratic. Look at how popular Madeline is.

DORIS: I should say. What's the matter with you, Fussie?

FUSSIE: Oh, I didn't mean it really _hurt_ her.

HORACE: Guess it don't hurt her much at a dance. Say, what's this new jazz they were springing last night?

DORIS: I know! Now look here, Horace--L'me show you. (_she shows him a step_)

HORACE: I get you. (_He begins to dance with her; the book he holds slips to the floor. He kicks it under the table_.)

FUSSIE: Be careful. They'll be coming back here, (_glances off left_)

DORIS: Keep an eye out, Fussie.

FUSSIE: (_from her post_) They're coming! I tell you, they're _coming!_

DORIS: Horace, come on.

(_He teasingly keeps hold of her, continuing the dance. At sound of voices, they run off, right_. FUSSIE _considers rescuing the book, decides she has not time_.)

SENATOR: (_at first speaking off_) Yes, it could be done. There is that surplus, and as long as Morton College is socially valuable--right here above the steel works, and making this feature of military training--(_he has picked up his hat_) But your Americanism must be unimpeachable, Mr Fejevary. This man Holden stands in the way.

FEJEVARY: I'm going to have a talk with Professor Holden this afternoon.

If he remains he will--(_it is not easy for him to say_) give no trouble. (MADELINE _returns_) Oh, here's Madeline--Silas Morton's granddaughter, Madeline Fejevary Morton. This is Senator Lewis, Madeline.

SENATOR: (_holding out his hand_) How do you do, Miss Morton. I suppose this is a great day for you.

MADELINE: Why--I don't know.

SENATOR: The fortieth anniversary of the founding of your grandfather's college? You must be very proud of your ill.u.s.trious ancestor.

MADELINE: I get a bit bored with him.

SENATOR: Bored with him? My dear young lady!

MADELINE: I suppose because I've heard so many speeches about him--'The sainted pioneer'--'the grand old man of the prairies'--I'm sure I haven't any idea what he really was like.

FEJEVARY: I've tried to tell you, Madeline.

MADELINE: Yes.

SENATOR: I should think you would be proud to be the granddaughter of this man of vision.

MADELINE: (_her smile flas.h.i.+ng_) Wouldn't you hate to be the granddaughter of a phrase?

FEJEVARY: (_trying to laugh it off_) Madeline! How absurd.

MADELINE: Well, I'm off for tennis.

(_Nods good-bye and pa.s.ses on_.)

FEJEVARY: (_calling to her_) Oh, Madeline, if your Aunt Isabel is out there--will you tell her where we are?

MADELINE: (_calling back_) All right.

FEJEVARY: (_after a look at his companion_) Queer girl, Madeline.

Rather--moody.

SENATOR: (_disapprovingly_) Well--yes.

FEJEVARY: (_again trying to laugh it off_) She's been hearing a great many speeches about her grandfather.

SENATOR: She should be proud to hear them.

FEJEVARY: Of course she should. (_looking in the direction_ MADELINE _has gone_) I want you to meet my wife, Senator Lewis.

SENATOR: I should be pleased to meet Mrs Fejevary. I have heard what she means to the college--socially.

FEJEVARY: I think she has given it something it wouldn't have had without her. Certainly a place in the town that is--good for it. And you haven't met our president yet.

SENATOR: Guess, I've met the real president.

FEJEVARY: Oh--no. I'm merely president of the board of trustees.

SENATOR: 'Merely!'

FEJEVARY: I want you to know President Welling. He's very much the cultivated gentleman.

SENATOR: Cultivated gentlemen are all right. I'd hate to see a world they ran.

FEJEVARY: (_with a laugh_) I'll just take a look up here, then we can go down the shorter way.

(_He goes out right_. SENATOR LEWIS _turns and examines the books_.

FUSSIE _slips in, looks at him, hesitates, and then stoops under the table for the Matthew Arnold (and her poem) which_ HORACE _has kicked there. He turns_.)

FUSSIE: (_not out from under the table_) Oh, I was just looking for a book.

SENATOR: Quite a place to look for a book.

FUSSIE: (_crawling out_) Yes, it got there. I thought I'd put it back.

Somebody--might want it.

SENATOR: I see, young lady, that you have a regard for books.

FUSSIE: Oh, yes, I do have a regard for them.