Her Own Way Part 37

LOUISE. [_Outside._] Good! Hurry!

STEVEN. [_Coming back to her._] But I can't leave you.

GEORGIANA. You must. And anyway I want you to. I want to be alone.

[STEVEN _hesitates. He comes and takes her hand and is about to kiss her, but something keeps him back; he presses her hand and she gives a grateful look. She crosses to the dressing table and sits before it, dazed. Slowly she takes the flowers from her hair, the pearls from her neck. The front door slams, she lifts her head, and leaning her arm toward_ d.i.c.k'S _picture, draws it toward her, gazing at it. Then, crying, "d.i.c.k, d.i.c.k," she bursts into tears and drops her head upon her arms outstretched on the table as_

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT IV

_Seven weeks later. The drawing-room as in Act II._ GEORGIANA, _in a clinging black lace dress, is at the piano, playing "Traumerei." The sunshine pours in through the windows._ MOLES _comes in apologetically from the Left._

MOLES. Mr. Coast wants to know if you will see him, miss.

GEORGIANA. [_Who continues playing._] Very well, Moles.

MOLES. Shall I show him up?

[GEORGIANA _nods her head._ MOLES _goes out._ GEORGIANA _continues playing. In a few seconds_ MOLES _reenters with_ COAST.

COAST. Good morning, Georgiana.

[GEORGIANA, _half smiling, bows very impersonally, and continues playing till she finishes the music._ COAST _leans against the piano, facing her, and watches her and waits._

GEORGIANA. [_When she has finished._] How long is it since you and I have been friends?

COAST. It's five weeks and a couple of days--but it wasn't my fault.

GEORGIANA. Wasn't it? Well? What is it? Why do you want to see me?

COAST. Same reason as ever!

GEORGIANA. No,--you wouldn't ask me that now!

COAST. Yes, I would!

GEORGIANA. No, Sam! Love isn't a game with all women, if you lose with one hand, to try another. Do you mean you think because d.i.c.k is dead, it would be any more possible for me to care for you? I don't respect you, Sam, and I don't like you,--and that's putting it very politely,--for many reasons; but one's enough--_Steve_!

[COAST _looks away._

COAST. [_After a second's pause._] I've let you go on because I know I deserve all I get; and I've caught on to the fact that you won't ever care about me the way I want. Well, it's funny, it don't seem to make much difference in my feelings for you all the same! [_Half laughs._] I ain't exactly ashamed of what I've done, but I'm sort of _sorry_--for _you_.

GEORGIANA. [_Rising._] I don't want your sympathy, Sam.

[_She comes away from the piano and he follows her._

COAST. Well, you've got to get it, anyway! That you can't help, and if you can help loving me, you can't help my loving you! Anyway, I don't want you to have to get out o' this house.

GEORGIANA. That is all settled now; we can't afford to live here, of course.

COAST. Yes, you can.

GEORGIANA. No, no--Steve's salary--

COAST. Steve's leaving that job; he don't need that money any longer.

[_He looks at her, she looks in his face--a short pause; then--_

GEORGIANA. You don't mean you've given Steve--

COAST. Don't worry, I'm giving away nothing. Steve's got a new job.

GEORGIANA. What?

COAST. I'm going home--leastways so far's Denver--and Steve's going to look after my interests here.

GEORGIANA. But--

COAST. [_Interrupting her._] Oh, don't worry--he can't act without my advice--and that's just the kind of a man I want! I don't want none of these here fellers who's got judgment o' their own! Steve's knows he's a fool in business, and he'll obey me implicitly.

GEORGIANA. [_Sitting by the table Left._] And Steve is willing to accept from _you_--

COAST. [_Interrupting._] Oh, I guess he considers I _owe_ him that much anyway.

GEORGIANA. You couldn't repay what you owe Steve.

COAST. That's how _you_ look at it! Then there's Coleman's money.

GEORGIANA. Don't speak about that, please.

COAST. Why not? he's left it to you, everybody knows it, and it must be a good deal.

GEORGIANA. I can't and won't discuss that with you.

COAST. [_Goes to_ GEORGIANA.] I wish you didn't feel so hard against me, Georgy!

GEORGIANA. To tell you the truth, Sam, I don't think I feel anything about you.

COAST. Oh, Lord, that's worse! I guess I won't stop at Denver,--I'll go away out to the mine for a while and join father.--Good-by.

GEORGIANA. Good-by.

[_Rises._