The Girl with the Green Eyes Part 5

MRS. CULLINGHAM. I never saw a sweeter, my dear! And it was perfectly elegant! Simply great!

JINNY. And isn't Jack--

MRS. CULLINGHAM. He is! And so are you! In fact I've been telling your mother I don't know how to thank you both. You've asked me to-day to meet the swellest crowd I've ever been in where I was _invited_, and didn't have to buy tickets, and felt I had a right to say something besides "excuse me," and "I beg your pardon." Of course, I've sat next to them all before in restaurants and at concerts, but this time I felt like the real thing myself, and I shall never forget it! If you or your husband ever want any mining tips, come to me; what my husband don't know about mines isn't worth knowing!

JINNY. I'm as glad as I can be if you've had a good time, and you mustn't feel indebted to us. Ever since we met in Egypt that winter, mamma and I have always felt you were one of our best friends.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Of course you know it isn't for _my own_ sake I'm doing these stunts to get into Society. It's all for _my boy_. He's _got_ to have the best--or the _worst_, however you look at it! [_Laughing._]

Anyway, I want him to have a chance at it, and it belongs to him through his father, for my first husband was a real swell!

[_Looking at PETER lovingly._

[_At this moment, PETER, having again looked at his watch, tips up the powder on his tongue, and swallows it down with the water._

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Poor darling! He suffers terribly from indigestion.

That's an alkali powder he takes twenty minutes after eating. Peter, we must say good-by now.

PETER. [_Coming up._] Good-by, Miss Jinny.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. _Mrs. Austin!_

JINNY. Oh, I'll always be "Miss Jinny" to Peter!

PETER. Thank you! We've had a great time at your wedding! _Bully food!_ But I'm _feeling_ it! [_He turns aside._] Excuse me!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. I was just telling Mrs. Austin--

[_Interrupted._

JINNY. "Jinny"--don't change.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Thank you-- [_Rises to go._] I was just saying we won't forget in our social life, will we, Peter, that Miss Jinny gave us the biggest boost up we've had yet?

[_JINNY also rises._

PETER. Well, you know, mother, I don't think the game's worth the candle. It's begun to pall on me already.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. I really think he's going to be superior to it!

PETER. I only go now for your sake.

[_MRS. TILLMAN, coming from Right, speaks off stage._

MRS. TILLMAN. Jinny! Jinny!

JINNY. Mother!

[_MRS. TILLMAN enters._

JINNY. I ought to dress?

MRS. TILLMAN. [_To MRS. CULLINGHAM._] She'll be late if she isn't careful.

JINNY. I'm going to. Is Maggie there?

MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, waiting!

JINNY. Good-by. [_Kisses MRS. CULLINGHAM._] Good-by. [_Shakes PETER'S hand._]

PETER. Many happy returns!

[_JINNY goes out Right._

MRS. TILLMAN. Come, I want to give you some of Jinny's flowers to take home with you. Would you like some?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. I should love them!

[_They go out through the doors at back._

[_PETER is suffering with indigestion. He takes a charcoal tablet, and SUSIE cautiously enters Right._

SUSIE. There you are! Have you got 'em?

PETER. No, I gave them back to you.

SUSIE. Then they're in there on the table--get 'em quick, the trunks are coming down now!

[_PETER goes out quickly at back, as the BUTLER and MAN SERVANT enter Right, carrying a large new trunk with a portmanteau on top of it._

SUSIE. Put them right over there for a minute! [_They put them down in the centre of the room, and the FOOTMAN goes out Right._] And mind, you don't split on us, Thomas. Auntie Tillman knows all about it--it's just to be a nice little surprise for Cousin Jinny and my new uncle.

BUTLER. Very well, miss.

[_He also goes out Right._

[_At the same time PETER reenters at back with a roll of papers and some broad white satin ribbon. The papers are about half a foot broad and two feet long, and on them is printed, "We are on our honeymoon."_

PETER. [_With gay excitement._] I've got 'em.

SUSIE. Get some water--there's sticky stuff on the back!

[_PETER gives her the papers and ribbons and goes out again at back._

SUSIE. Quick! [_Ties a big white bow on the portmanteau and on a trunk handle._] If Auntie Tillman sees 'em, I'll bet she'll grab 'em off.

She'll be as mad as _hops_!

[_The BUTLER and FOOTMAN reenter Right, and bring down an old steamer trunk and a gentleman's dressing-bag._