The Climbers Part 32

You never guessed! Ah, well, your father knew.

BLANCHE. But Mrs. Mason is hopelessly insane; surely--

RUTH. A principle is a principle; I took my stand against divorce. What can you do for a principle if you don't give up everything for it?

Nothing! And that is what I mean. To-day I am not sorry--I am happy.

[_There is another slight pause._ RICHARD _is heard upstairs singing a Christmas carol, "Once in Royal David's City," etc._

BLANCHE. [_With great emotion._] But if it breaks my heart--if it breaks my heart?

RUTH. Hearts don't break from the pain that comes of doing right, but from the sorrow of doing wrong! [_Neither woman speaks for a minute; in the silence_ RUTH _hears_ RICHARD.] What's that?

BLANCHE. [_Hearing now for the first time._] Richard singing one of his carols.

RUTH. I'd forgotten it _was_ Christmas.

[LEONARD _enters Left._

LEONARD. Doctor Steinhart is here to see Mr. Sterling. Where shall I show him, madame?

BLANCHE. Here; we'll go--

[_Rising._

LEONARD. Yes, madame.

[_He goes out._

RUT. Well? What are you going to do?

BLANCHE. I'm _thinking_--

RUTH. May I come with you, or shall I--

BLANCHE. No, come.

[_The two women start to leave the room together Right, with their arms around each other. They meet_ STERLING, _who enters; he starts, they stop._

STERLING. I beg your pardon, I didn't know you were here.

BLANCHE. We are going to my room; I am sorry you are not well.

STERLING. Oh, it's nothing, thank you.

RUTH. If we can do anything, let us know.

STERLING. [_Overwhelmed with shame, bows his head._] Thank you.

[_The women go out Right. At the same moment_ DR. STEINHART _is shown in by_ LEONARD _Left._

DR. STEINHART. Good morning, Sterling.

STERLING. Good morning, doctor; sit down.

DR. STEINHART. No, thanks, I'm very rushed this morning. What can I do for you?

STERLING. I've been drinking too much for some time; I can't eat--my nerves are all gone to pieces. I've some--some business troubles, and I haven't slept for a week.

DR. STEINHART. Is that all! Brace up, help yourself a little, and we can soon make a man of you.

STERLING. I'm afraid it would take more than a doctor to do that.

DR. STEINHART. Oh, come, we must get rid of melancholy. Come and drive with me to 79th Street.

STERLING. No, I'm too worn out. Look at my hand! [_Holds out a trembling hand._] I tell you literally I haven't slept for weeks--I thought you'd give me some chloral or something.

DR. STEINHART. What? Now?

STERLING. Yes; I've tried sulphonal and all that rot; if doesn't have any effect on me. Give me a hypodermic--

DR. STEINHART. Nonsense! Come out into the air!

STERLING. I've _been_ out.

DR. STEINHART. Good! Then try lying down again, and perhaps you'll go to sleep _now_.

STERLING. Very well, but give me something to take to-night in case I can't sleep then.

DR. STEINHART. [_Takes out a note-book and writes with a stylographic pen._] Be careful what you eat to-day. How about this drinking--did your business trouble come after it began, or did the whiskey come after the business trouble?

STERLING. That's it.

DR. STEINHART. Um--[_Giving_ STERLING _the paper which he tears out of his note-book._] Look here, I've a busy day before me; but I'll look in to-morrow, and we'll have a good talk.

STERLING. Thank you. I say, what _is_ this?

DR. STEINHART. It's all right. Sulphate of morphia--one-quarter-grain tablets.

STERLING. Isn't that very little?

DR. STEINHART. Oh, no; you try one, and repeat in an hour if it hasn't done its work.

STERLING. But you've only given me two tablets, and I tell you I'm awfully hard to influence!

DR. STEINHART. Two's enough; we don't give a lot of drugs to a man in a nervous condition like yours. Don't let them wake you for luncheon if you're asleep. Sleep's best for you. Good-by--pleasant dreams.

[_He goes out Left._

STERLING. [_Reads off the prescription._] "Two one-quarter-grain tablets sulphate of morphia, Wm. B. Steinhart--" And in _ink!_ Why didn't he write it with a lead-pencil? How can I make it more? Two--wait a minute!