Why Marry? Part 5

My work, Rex--I had to get back to work.

REX

Work!... You are too good to work.

JEAN

[_amused, not jealous_]

Is this your high-powered car, Rex? Have you learned to run it yet?

REX

[_startled_]

But ... well ... you see, I met Helen on the way. See-what-I-mean?

JEAN

[_laughing_]

Oh, we see.

REX

But I hadn't seen her for so long. I thought--[_Looks from HELEN to JEAN_] ... wait, I'll get the car.

[_He hurries off._

LUCY

[_to JEAN_]

Why couldn't she have stayed abroad!

JEAN

Helen, don't talk about your work before Lucy--it shocks her.

HELEN

Oh, very well; make it my 'career'!

JEAN

[_arm around HELEN_]

Sssh!--that's worse.

LUCY

Helen, dear, I deem it my duty to tell you that you are being talked about.

HELEN

Lucy, dear, do you always find your true happiness in duty?

LUCY

Well, if you think you are going back to that horrid place again ...

after what happened that night? John won't hear of it.

HELEN

If the Baker Inst.i.tute of Medical Experiment is not a respectable place you should make John resign as trustee.

[_She laughs it off._

LUCY

John is trustee of--oh, nearly everything. That makes it all the worse.

It isn't as if you had to work.

HELEN

Oh, but John is so rich now, his credit can stand it. And you oughtn't to mind! Why, some of our most fashionable families now contain freaks like me. It's becoming quite smart, just as in former days one of the sons would go into the Church or the navy.

LUCY

Well, of course, I am old-fashioned, but going down-town every day with the men,--it seems so unwomanly.