The Girl with the Green Eyes Part 10

[_Both talk at once in great admiration and intense excitement for a few moments. Then he suddenly drops into his ordinary tone and manner._

HE. Allons, allons nous!

SHE. [_In the same tone._] Oui, j'ai faim!

[_They go out Right._

[_JINNY and AUSTIN enter Left, he looking over his shoulder. They stand a moment just inside the doorway._

JINNY. What are you looking back so much for, Jackie?

AUSTIN. I thought I saw some one I know.

JINNY. Who?

AUSTIN. I didn't know who; it just seemed to be a familiar back.

JINNY. [_Playfully._] Oh, come! I think the present works of art and your loving wife are quite enough for you to look at without hunting around for familiar backs!

AUSTIN. And Baedeker! [_Reading from Baedeker about the Apollo._] Apollo Belvedere, found at the end of the fifteenth century, probably in a Roman villa--

JINNY. Of course, Apollo!

AUSTIN. Great, isn't it?

JINNY. Stunning! [_She turns and looks at him, smiling quizzically._]

_Still_--but I suppose I'm prejudiced!

AUSTIN. [_Obtuse._] Still what?

JINNY. You dear old stupid! You know, Jack, you're deeply and _fundamentally_ clever and brilliant, but you're not quite-- _bright_-- _not quick_!

[_Laughing._

AUSTIN. Don't you think having _one_ in the family quick as chain lightning is enough? What have I missed this time, Jinny? You don't mean you've found a family likeness in the statue over there? I don't want to be unappreciative, but it doesn't suggest your father to me in the least,--nor even Geoffrey.

JINNY. _Stupid!!_ Of course it doesn't _suggest_ anybody to me--I was only thinking I sympathized with Mrs. Perkins of Boston,--don't you know the old story about her?

AUSTIN. No, what was it?

JINNY. [_After a quick look around to see that they are alone._]

Well--Mrs. Perkins from Boston was personally conducted here once and shown this very statue, and she looked at it for a few moments, and then turned around and said, "Yes, it's all right, but give _me Perkins_!"

AUSTIN. Jinny!

[_Laughing._

JINNY. Are you shocked? Come, I'm tired; let's sit down here and read my letters--there's one from Geof.

[_They sit on the bench at Right, and JINNY takes out a letter from GEOFFREY._

AUSTIN. I'll read ahead in Baedeker and you tell me if there's any news.

[_He opens the Baedeker and reads, and she opens and reads the letter._]

Where is Geof's letter from?

JINNY. New York, of course; where else would it be?

AUSTIN. I had an idea he was going away.

JINNY. Geof! Where?

AUSTIN. West, a good way somewhere.

JINNY. But _why_ would he go West?

AUSTIN. Oh, he had some business, I believe; I remember thinking it was a good idea when he told me. It was the day we were married--I was waiting for you to come downstairs.

JINNY. I think it's very funny Geof never said anything about it to _me_.

AUSTIN. My dear, what time had _you_? You were _getting married_!!

JINNY. I _was_! Thank heaven! I'm _so happy_, Jack!

[_Snuggling up to him on the bench._

AUSTIN. [_Steals a little, quick hug with his arm about her waist._]

Bless you, darling, I don't think there was ever a man as happy as I am!

[_They start apart quickly as a GERMAN COUPLE enter Right, with a YOUNG DAUGHTER, who is munching a cake, and hanging, a tired and unwilling victim, to her mother's hand._

WOMAN. Ach! schon! sehr schon!!

MAN. Grosses, nicht?

WOMAN. _Yah!_

[_They stand admiring._

AUSTIN. By the way, when you answer your brother's letter, I wish you'd say I seemed surprised he was still in New York.

JINNY. [_Reading._] Um--um--

MAN. [_Wiping his warm brow._] _Wunderbaum!_

WOMAN. _Yah!!_

[_They go out Left, talking._