xt7fn29p3412 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7fn29p3412/data/mets.xml Fitch, Clyde, 1865-1909. 1907 books b92-203-30752402 English Samuel French, : New York : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Truth : a play in four acts / by Clyde Fitch. text Truth : a play in four acts / by Clyde Fitch. 1907 2002 true xt7fn29p3412 section xt7fn29p3412
The Truth
A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS
By
CLYDE FITCH
1,1
NEW YORK
SAMLEL FRENCH
P 18( SHER
R AVEST 3OTH STREET
LONDON
SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD.
26 SOUTHAMPTON ST.
STRAND
Reprinted by permission of Little, Brown Company
This page in the original text is blank.
THE TRUTH
A eAYIN FOUR A C7S
This page in the original text is blank.
NEW YORK
SAMUEL FRENCH
PUBLISHER
28 WEST 38TH STREET
LONDON
SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD.
26 SOUTHAMPTON ST.
STRAND
Reprinted by permission of Little, Brown Company
The Truth
A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS
By
CLYDE FITCH
COPYRIGHT, 1907,
BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This play is fully protected by the copyriphr !sw, all requirements of
which have been complied with. In its present printed form it is dedi-
cated to the reading public only, and no performance of it, either pro-
fessional or amateur, may be given without the written permission of
the owner of the acting rights, who may be addressed in care of the
publishers, Little, Brown, and Company.
TO
MARIE TEMPEST
WITH GRATEFUL ADMIRATION FOR
HER TRIUMPHANT BECKY ON
APRIL 6, 1907
C. F.
This page in the original text is blank.
THE TRUTH
ACT I. AT THE WARDERS', NEW YORK
Thursday Afternoon.
ACOL II. AT THE WARDERS'.
Saturday After-noon,yust after lunch.
ACT III. AT STEPHEN ROLAND'S, BALTIMORL
Saturday ANight.
ACT IV. AT STEPHEN ROLAND'S.
Monday Morning.
This page in the original text is blank.
THE PERSONS IN THE PLAY
WARDER.
ROLAND.
LINDON.
SERVANT AT THE WARDERS'
BECKY WARDER.
EVE LINDON
LAURA FRASER.
MRS. GENEVIEVE CRESPIGNY.
MESSENGER BOY.
This page in the original text is blank.
Produced in Cleveland, Ohio, October, 1906,
and later played at The Criterion and Lyceum
Theatres, New York, with the following cast: -
Warder .
Roland
Lindon.
Servant at the Warders'
Becky Warder . .
Eve Lindon . . .
Laura Fraser.
Mrs. Genevieve Crespigny
Messenger Boy
... . . William J. Kelly
... ... J. E. Dodson
... . . . George Spink
Hodgson Taylor
. . . . . Clara Bloodgood
.M.. .. rs. Sam Sothern
Elene Fraser
... . . . .Zelda Sears
. . Frederick Harrison
Played in New York by William B. Mack, and also by John
Emerson.
This page in the original text is blank.
Produced at the Comedy Theatre, London,
April 6, 1907, with the following cast:-
Warder
Roland
Lindon
Servant at the Warders' .
Becky Warder . .
Eve Lindon .
Laura Fraser .
Mrs. Genevieve Crespigny
Messenger Boy . .
. . . Allan Aynesworth
... . . .Dion Boucicault
Dawson Milward
... . . .Horton Cooper
... . . . Marie Tempest
.... . . . . Grace Lane
... . . . .Sybil Carlisle
.. . . . . Rosina Filippi
. . . .Donald Calthrop
This page in the original text is blank.
Revived by Winthrop Ames at The Little
Theatre, New York, on April il, 19I4, with the
following cast: -
Warder.
Roland.
Lindon.
Servant at the Warders'
Becky Warder .
Eve Lindon
Laura Fraser .
Mrs. Genevieve Crespigny.
Messenger Boy . .
Sydney Booth
Ferdinand Gottschalk
... . . .Conway Tearle
. . . . . Lionel Ifogarth
Grace George
Isabel Irving
Fanny Hartz
... . . . .Zelda Sears
Guthrie McClintic
This page in the original text is blank.
ACT I
Al MRS. WARDER'S. An extremely attractive
room, in the best of taste, gray walls with dull
soft green mouldings, old French chintz curtains,
furniture painted to match the walls and covered
with the same chintz. Some old colored engrav-
ings are on the mantel shelf and a couple of
eighteenth-century French portraits on the wall.
On the Left is a mantel, and near it a large writ-
ing table agains.' the back c,' a low sofa whitch
laces the audience; on the taole a telephone; an
armchair and a smal; taole on th.i Lelt; a Bab-y
Grand piano in the upperJeft corner n; the room.
Some consols and tables in the room; four
windows at the back, through which one sees the
211
THE TR U TH
park. Doors, Right and Left; books, photo-
graphs, flowers, etc., on the tables and consols.
A smart, good-looking man-servant, JENKS, shows
in MRS. LINDON and LAURA FRASER. The
former is a handsome, nervous, overstrung
woman of about thirty-four, very fashionably
dressed; Miss FRASER, on the conti ary, a
matter-of-fact, rather commonplace type of good
humor- wholesomeness united to a kind sense
of humor. MRS. LINDON is the sort of woman
warranted to put any one on edge in the course
of a few hours' consecutive association, while
/riction -udth MISS FR ASER is equally certain
to smooth down the raw edges.
MRS. LINDON. [Coming in to a chair near the
Centre witk quick determination.] You have no
idea when Mrs. Warder will be in
SERVANT. No, madam.
212
THE TRUT H2
MRS. LINDON. She was lunching out
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
LAURA. [With a movement to go.] Come!
She may be playing bridge and not come home
for hours.
MRS. LINDON. [Firm, though irritable.] I will
wait till half-past five. [To SERVANT.] If Mrs.
Warder comes in before that, we will be here.
[Nervously picks up check-book Irom the writ-
ing-table, looks at it but not in it, and puts it
down.
SERVANT. Very good, madam.
[Goes out Left.
LAURA. [Goes to EVE.] My dear, you must
control yourself. That man, if he has half a
servant's curiosity, could easily see you are ex-
cited.
MRS. LINDON. Yes, but think! She's been
2.3
THE TRUTH
meeting Fred probably every day for the last
two months, although she knew I had left his
house, and always pretended to me she never
saw him!
[Sitting beside the writing-table.
LAURA. [Sitting Left.] You shouldn't have
come here at once. You should hav. waited
till you had time to think over your information
and calm yourself a little.
MRS. LiNDoN. I couldn't wait! Becky! One
of my oldest friends! One of my bridesmaids!
LAURA. What!
MRS. LINDON. No, she wasn't, but she might
have been; she was my next choice if any one
had backed out.
LAURA. Probably Fred's appealing to her
sympathy,-you know your own husband!
MRS. LINDON. [With a disagreeable hald-laugh.]
214
THE TR UTH 215
Yes, I know him better than she does! What
I don't like is her secrecy about it after I'd made
her the confidante of my trouble!
LAURA. I thought I was that
MRS. LINDON. You are - another! But you
mustn't forget that I have gone to Becky in hys-
terics and begged her to make it up for me with
Fred.
LAURA. Were you perfectly frank with her
MRS. LINDON. Perfectly! I told her the truth,
and more too! I told her I loved Fred in spite
of his faults -Good Heavens! if a woman had
to find a faultless man to love! -I've asked her
advice.
[Rising nervously and going to the so/a.
LAURA. You haven't taken it!
MRS. LINDON. That doesn't make any differ-
ence! Who ever does [Sitting on the so/a.] She
216 THE TRUTH
owed me her loyalty instead of flirting with Fred
behind my back.
[She opens the cigar box on the writing-table
behind her and then bangs it shut.
LAURA. Perhaps she's really trying to make
peace between you in her own way!
MRS. LINDON. Does it look like it Actually
telling me yesterday she wouldn't trust herself
in his presence for fear she'd lose her control and
tell him what she thought of him! -and all the
time she had an appointment to meet him this
afternoon -in the Eden Ml uste, if you please!
LAURA. [With comic disgust.] Oh! Horrors!
MRS. LINDON. Yes, in the chamber of them!
If that isn't compromising!
LAURA. Eve!
MRS. LLNDON. And Tom Warder so nice!
Everybody likes him!
THE TRU TH
[Picks up stamp box and bangs it down.
LAURA. Including Becky. That's the point.
Becky loves her own husband. What does she
want of yours
MRS. LLNDON. She loved Tom Warder when
she married him, but that was in I903! Besides,
Becky always liked having men fond of her whether
she cared for them or not.
LAURA. Nonsense!
MRS. LINDON. She's what the French call an
"allumeuse"-leads them on till they lose their
heads, then she gets frightened and feels in-
sulted !
LAURA. But you claim she does care for Fred!
MRS. LINDON. My dear, a magnetic man like
Fred has a way of winding himself around a
woman and keeping himself wound as long as
he wishes I even when she doesn't wish, -look
217
THE TRUTH
at me! I'd give anything to throw him off for
good, but I can't stop being in love with him!
LAURA. [Who has moved over to the chair
beside the so/a, pats EVE'S hand.] Poor old Eve!
Well, when she comes, what are you going to do
MRS. LINDON. Give her one more chance to
tell me the truth! I'll ask her outright when
she saw Fred last.
LAURA. But if she keeps on with her "bluff"
of not seeing him, you can't tell her she lies with-
out making a horrid scene, and what good would
that do
AMRS. LINDON. Exactly! She'd never acknowl-
edge she was lying but just go on! I may appeal
to Tom Warder himself!
[Rises and goes to mantel, looking at the fly-leaves
o0 two books on a table which she passes.
LAURA. NO I
218
THE TR UTH
MRS. LINDON. Why not We've been friends
since babies.
LAURA. You wouldn't I
MRS. LINDON. I don't accuse Becky of any-
thing dreadful! Besides, it will be for his good
too, as well as mine, - he knows Fred, and I'll
wager anything he'll be as eager as I to stop any
excess of friendship with him. [Goes up to the
window.] Sh! here she is! and a man with
her !
LAURA. [Rises, excited, and joins her.] Who
MRS. LINDON. [Going to the other window.]
I can't see.
LAURA. [Joining her at the second window.]
Suppose it should be -
MRS. LINDON. Exactly! If she hears I'm here,
she'll never let him in. [She starts with a new
idea and goes to the door Right.] The window in
21(
220 THE TR UTH
that hall juts out; perhaps we can see the front
door from there. Come quickly!
[Tries to pull LAURA out Right.
LAURA. I don't approve of what you're doing
at all.
MRS. LINDON. Oh, come!
[They go out and close the door behind them.
[The SERVANT shows in BECKY and LINDON,
Left. BECKY is a pretty, charming, volatile
young woman, sprightly, vivacious, lovable.
She is dressed ultra smartly, and in the best
of taste. LINDON is dapper, rather gool-
looking, though not particularly strong in
character, and full of a certain personal charm.
He also wears very fashionable clothes. He
is a man whose chief aim in life is to amuse
himself.
SERVANT. Mrs. Lindon and Mfiss Fraser were
THE TRUTH22
waiting to see you, madam; they must have
gone.
BECKY. [With a humorous raising of the eye-
brows and a look to LINDON.] Oh! - I'm so sorry!
[The SERVANT goes out.
LINDON. Gee! wliat a narrow escape.
LAURA. [Off stage Right, pleading loudly.]
Eve! Eve!! Come'!!
MRS. LINDON. [Ofi stage Right, loudly.] I ill
not. I will run my own affairs my own way.
BECKY. [rho has heard this, with an amused,
mischievous expression.] They are there! Do
you suppose thcy saw you
[They lower their voices slightly.
LINDON. Vell, - Eve can see through most
things, but not through the walls! Good-by.
[He starts to hurry out, but BECKY stops him.
BECKY. You must come back! That's what I
221
THE TRUTH
brought you home with me to-day for -to talk
about Eve. This estrangement has gone on long
enough. I've come to the conclusion you're as
much to blame as she is, - or more.
LINDON. I like that from you !
BECKY. I mean it, and if she wants you back,
you've got to go.
LINDON. Well, let me get a cocktail first.
BECKY. I'm serious.
LINDON. So'Hl I be if Eve comes in and catches
me.
[Going.
BECKY. [Going with him.] I'll let you out -
but I expect you here again in half an hour. Do
you understand [They go out Left. Of stage.]
You're to come back at six.
LI.NDON. [Of stage, at a distance.] All right.
rEVE comes in excitedly from the Right.
222
THE TRUTH 223
MRS. LINDON. I think it is Fred! Watch
from the window! I'll stay here in case Becky
comes in. [She comes to the uriting-table.] I'd
like to scratch her eyes out!
[LAURA comes in and goes to right of the so/a.
LAURA. It was Fred.
MRS. LINDON. [Gives a tigerish, hal/-controlled,
hashed cry of rage.] The wretched little beast
[BECKY comes in with a start o/ surprise. She
beams.
BECKY. My dears! What a pleasant surprise!
Why didn't Jenks tell me Where in the world
did you drop from Laura, darling!
[She kisses LAURA, who is very unresponsive,
having pressed MRS. LLNDON'S hand as she
passed her.
MRS. LINDON. We heard you come in, -we
thought with some one, -and as I'm rather upset,
THE TRUTTH
we went in there till you should be alone. If you
are busy, don't let us interrupt.
[BECKY shows that she is relieved when she
hears they don't know FRED was there.
BECKY. 0 dear, no, I'm not busy. I came
home alone,-you must have heard me talking
with the servant. I've been playing bridge since
luncheon.
[BECKY and LAURA sit on the so/a.
MRS. LINDON. WI here
BECKY. Clara Ford's, our usual four.
[LAURA and EVE exchange glances.
MRS. LINDON. Why! I saw her lunching at
Sherry's.
BECKY. [Quickly, after only a second's hesi-
tation.] Yes, she couldn't play to-day, but it was
her turn at her house, so we went all the same -
and - er - er - Belle Prescott took her place.
224
THE TRUTH2
[Another surreptitious look passes between LAURA
and MRS. LINDON.
LAURA. Did you win
BECKY. Yes, a hundred and fifty!
LAURA. A hundred and fifty Good!
MRS. LINDON. [Who has seated herself in the
chair beside the sofa.] Becky, Laura knows all
my troubles; she's the bosom I weep them out on.
BECKY. Oh, come, I've gathered a few dewey
diamonds off my laces! Well, how is Fred be-
having Has he shown any sign yet
MRS. LINDON. Not one. I thought perhaps
you'd have some news.
BECKY. [Looking away.] I How should I
have
[Leans over and smooths her skirt. MRS.
LINDON exchanges a look with LAURA.
MRS. LINDON. You said two days ago for me
225
226 THE TRUTH
to keep silent and wait, and Fred would make an
advance.
BECKY. And so he will, I'm sure! unless you
do what you threatened. [To LAURA.] I tell Eve
if she starts a suit for separation or does anything
of that sort publicly, Fred may be furious and
accept the situation, no matter how much of a
bluff it might be on Eve's part.
LAURA. Very likely.
MRS. LINDON. I thought perhaps you meant
to see Fred and have a talk with him
BECKY. No! [MRS. LINDON and LAURA ex-
change glances, as BECKY, rising, rings bell Right.]
INhat good would that do To have the recon-
ciliation mean anything it must be of his own
volition. He must come for you, Eve, because
he misses you, because he wants you back. [MRS.
LLNDON joins LAURA on the sola and talks in a
THE TRUTH 227
loud and excited whisper to her as to BECKY'S
very evAdent prevarication. SERVANT enters Right;
BECKY speaks to him aside, amiusedly watching
them, and then comes above table. As she comes
back.] WellI
MRS. LINDON. I believe there's another woman
in it!
BECKY. [Laughing.] I knew she was jealous!
[To MRS. LINDON.] That's just the sort of thing
that has made quarrels all along between you and
Fred.
[She comes to her.
MRS. LINDON. Well, if you knew all I've had
to forgive Fred, and all I have forgiven, you'd
realize I had good reason always for my share of
the quarrels.
BECKY. Listen to me, Eve. You're a luckier
woman than you know!
THE TRUTH
MRS. LINDON. [Startled.] How do you mean
[LAURA puts her hand on EVE'S shoulder to
calm her.
BECKY. Because, instead of having the for-
giveness always on his side, you have the blessed
privilege of doing the forgiveness yourself. [AIRS.
LINDON gives a falsetto snort.] You may smile if
you like -
MRS. LINDON. [Interrupting.] Oh, no, thank
you. I don't fccl at all like smiling!
BECKY. Well, honestly, I envy you. LTakes
EVE'S hands in hers. MIRS. LINDON looks once
at LAURA questioninglv, and tack again quickly
to BECKY.] You know I love Tom with my whole
heart -and it's a big heart for a little woman
-and yet I keep him forgiving me -forgiving
me something or other all the time. I'd be afraid
his forgiveness would wear out, only it's in his
22S
THE TRUTH 229
soul instead of his body, and if our bodies wear
out, our souls don't -do they Already at the
very beginning of our life together I owe him
more dear forgiveness than I can ever repay, and
believe me, Eve, such a debt would be unbear-
able for a woman unless she adored her husband.
AIRS. LINDON. You've too much sentiment-
I'm practical.
BECKY. [Sitting down in the chair at Centre.]
Does being practical give you one-half the happi-
ness my "sentiment" gives me
AIRS. LLNDON. Nonsense! My sympathies are
with the one who has the forgiving to do.
BECKY. You mean, like all selfish people, you
sympathize with yourself, so you'll never be
happy, even if you get Fred back.
MRS. LINDON. [Startled, angry.] If What do
you mean by that
230 THE TRUTH
[Looks at BECKY, then at LAURA, sharply, then
back at BECKY.
BECKY. [Smiling.] Say when instead! when
you get Fred back. Trust me, teach yourself
to be grateful that it is you who have to forgive,
and not the other way round.
MRS. LINDON. [Rises, facing her, almost tri-
umphantly, lully persuaded that BECKY is in the
wrong.] I knew when I came here you'd make
excuses for him.
BECKY. [Smiling.] You've misunderstood me.
I'm trying to make them for you.
MRS. LINDON. Thank you. You need excuses
more than I do.
LAURA. [Rises, alarmed.] Eve!
MRS. LINDON. I am perfectly well aware that
I made a very serious mistake in coming to you
of all women!
THE TR U TH 231
BECKY. [Rises.] In that case I think it best
to consider the matter closed between us.
MRS. LINDON. You can think what you please,
but I have no such intention!
LAURA. Eve!
[She sits again on the so/a.
Really Becky has shown herself reasonable and
kind, and you've said enough to-day. We'd
better go.
BECKY. I should have to ask you to excuse me
in any case, as I have an engagement in a few
minutes.
[MRS. LINDON looks meaningly at LAURA.
AIRS. LLNDON. [To BECKY.] I intend to have
the whole thing out now!
[WARDER enters left.
[WARDER is a strong and sensible, unsuspicious
man, -no nerves and no "temperament," noth-
THE TR UTH
ing subtle about him; he is straightforward
and lovable.
WARDER. Oh, excuse me!
BECKY. No, come in, Tom; it's Laura and
Mrs. Lindon.
[LAURA and MRS. IINDON say " How do you
do," as WARDER comes into the room. He
greets them in turn. BECKY writes in pencil on
a sheet of paper on the desk.
Tom. I wanted to ask Becky if she wished
to go to a theatre to-night.
BECKY. Yes, I should like to. [She indicates
to Tom that she wants EVE and LAURA to go, and
having finished writing, comes to him.] I'm sorry,
but you really must excuse me. [Slipping into
WARDER'S Ihand the note she had secretly written.]
Mrs. Lindon and Laura are going. What are
you going to do now
232
THE TR UTH2
[M\IRS. LINDON looks again meaningly at LAURA.
WARDER. I thought I'd go round to the club
till dinner.
BECKY. [Relieved.] That's right. I shall be
engaged till half-past six, - er - AIrs. Clayton
is coming to see me about the Golf Club at Ros-
lyn - and - lots of things. You needn't hurry
back.
[She gives him an affectionate little squeeze of
the arm and goes out Right. He looks down
at the paper slyly and reads it.
MRS. LINDON. [Rises and goes to Tom.] Tom,
if Xou've nothing in particular on at the club,
would you give me half an hour
LAURA. [Rises and goes to EVE.] Eve, you
haven't the time yourself; you must come with
me.
WARDER. [Suppressing a smile as he finishes
2R3
234 THE TRUTH
reading the note, he is a little embarrassed.] WeR
-really - Eve -I don't know, - I'll tell you
how it is-
MRS. LINDON. Oh, I don't mean here! I
know Becky wrote you a note telling you not to
let me stay, didn't she
XWARDER. [Laughing.] She did - you see, she
has an engagement. [Reading from the paper,
good-naturedly.] "Get rid of Eve, I want the
room."
MRS. LINDON. At six o'clock.
[Glances meaningly at LAURA.
WARDER. [Casually.] Is it
MRS. LINDON. To see Fred in!
LAURA. Eve! be sensible!
WARDER. NO, it's for Mrs. Clayton about
Roslvn.
MRS. LrNDON. Then why must she be rid of
THE TR U TH 235
me Georgia Clayton and I are the best of
friends, and I have as much to do with Roslyn
as Becky.
WARDER. [Still pleasantly.] I suppose Beck
has a good reason, if she cared to tell us.
MRS. LINDON. I know Becky has an appoint-
ment here, at six, with Fred.
LAURA. You don't know it, Eve!
MRS. LLNDON. I do.
WARDER. [Still pleasantly.] In any case that
is Becky's and Fred's business, isn't it
MRS. LINDON. You know Fredl
WARDER. Yes!
MRS. LINDON. Well
WARDER. You don't want my opinion of Fred,
at this late day! I also know Becky!
MRS. LINDON. Becky and Fred meet every
single day.
236 THE TRUTH
LAURA. [Interpolates.] She thinks so.
WARDER. What are you talking about
MRS. LINDON. What I know! And if you'll
wait here with me a few minutes now, in spite of
what Becky said, you'll see Fred and not Mrs.
Clayton arrive.
WARDER. If your husband s really coming, it
was probably to spare you that Becky spoke of
Mrs. Clayton, and I shouldn't think of embarrass-
ing her by waiting.
MRS. LINDON. [Disagreeably, irritatingly.] Oh,
you don't mind, then
WARDER. Almost any man, my dear Eve,
would mind your husband meeting his wife every
day! I only think you've been misinformed, or
only half informed, that's all.
MRS. LINDON. You are aware that Fred and I
have been separated for two months
THE TR U 2J7
WARDER. Yes, Becky told me.
LAURA. [Looking at her watch.] It's almost six
now. Come, Eve.
WARDER. [Going toward the door, Le/t.] Yes,
I'm afraid I must ask you -
[Rings electric bell on wall beside the door.
MRS. LINDON. [Going to him.] Tom, for the
sake of our boy and girl friendship, walk home
with me, and let me speak plainly.
LAURA. [On the other side of WARDER.] Mr.
Warder, please don't go.
MRS. LINDON. [To LAURA, angry.] What do
you mean [To WARDER, pleadingly.] I've no
other man in the world to go to; I need advice.
Won't you give me yours
WARDER. [Looks at her a moment, hesitates,
then says.] My advice Of course, if you wish
that. [The SERVANT appears in the doorway in
2;7
238 THE TR UTH
answer to the bell. To SERVANT.] My hat and
coat - and say to Mrs. Warder I'm walking home
with Mrs. Lindon.
[He goes out Left.
SERVANT. Yes, sir.
[Follows him out.
[LAURA looks significantly at MRs. LINDON.
LAURA. If you keep on, there soon won't be a
soul left in New York whose advice you haven't
asked and not taken !
MRS. LINDON. Well, it's my own trouble; I
can do what I like with it. What are you going
to do now
[She sits in the armchair at the Left.
LAURA. [Going to her.] Don't tell him all you
think you know about Becky.
MRS. LLNDON. Think /
LAURA. It will be a very great mistake.
THE TRU TH3
MRS. LINDON. Laura, I'll tell you the truth;
I've had Fred watched by private detectives for
over a month, and I have a list of dates and places
of their meetings to more than prove what I say.
LAURA. How dreadful of you!
MRS. LINDON. Oh, wait till you get a hus-
band, and then you'll sympathize more with a
woman who is trying to keep one!
LAURA. But these places where they meet
MRS. LINDON. Are respectable so far as I
know. But daily meetings my dear, daily!
LAURA. And you'll tell Mr. Warder
MRS. LINDON. I don't know yet how much I
shall tell. What are you going to do now
LAURA. Wait till to-morrow! Give yourself
time to recover, to consider.
MRS. LINDON. [Simply repeals.] What are you
going to do now
239
THE TR UTH
LAURA. [Deliberately crosses to the chair at
Centre and sits.] Stay and see Becky.
MRS. LINDON. [Rises, delighted.] Oh, do!
Stay till Fred comes, and catch her!
LAURA. No, no! I've finished with this now.
I don't sympathize with what you're going to do.
WARDER. [With hat and coat, in the doorway
Left.] Ready
MRS. LINDON. Yes.
WARDER. Good-by, Laura.
LAURA. Good-by. [MRS. LINDON goes out Left
with WARDER. After the outside door is heard to
close BECKY comes into the room hurriedly. She
stops suddenly on seeing LAURA, turns and tries to
steal out. Just as she gets to the door, LAURA
catches her.] Becky!
[BECKY turns and their eyes meet. BECKY
laughs, realizing she is caught.
240
THE TR UTH4
BECKY. Oh, you didn't go with them
LAURA. No!
BECKY. Had enough of Eve to-day
LAURA. Not enough of you.
BECKY. [Sings instead of speaks.] "Thank
you ! "
[She puts her arm around LAURA, and they sit
on the so/a.
LAURA. Becky, why won't you be frank with Eve
BECKY. I was.
LAURA. No, you didn't tell the truth about see-
ing Fred.
BECKY. Oh, that!
LAURA. Yes, that!
BECKY. I may have seen him once or twice,
that's all.
LAURA. Exactly what Eve says -you don't
tell the truth!
241I
242 THE TRU TH
BECKY. It's false! I never told a malicious
lie in my life. I never told a fib that hurt any
one but myself!
LAURA. Tell Eve the truth. Make her have
confidence in you. She says if you cross the
ferry to Jersey City, you say you've been abroad.
BECKY. [Laughing.] Well, so I have! Laura!
I'm doing my best to make Eve happy. I can't
do any more than my best, and if I do it at all, I
must do it my own way!
LAURA. You've seen Fred to-day.
BECKY. No, I haven't.
LAURA. Becky! He came home with you just
now!
BECKY. What makes you think so
LAURA. I saw his back on the steps with you.
BECKY. Oh, I see - spying on me Well, you
made a mistake in the back.
7HE TR UTH 243
LAURA. I know it was Fred Lindon.
BECKY. And I know it wasn't.
LAURA. You're not seeing him every day
BECKY. Certainly not! But what affair is it
of yours, if I do
LAURA. We're all friends, and you're making
Eve wildly jealous.
BECKY. That is entirely her own fault, not
mine.
[The SERVANT enters Lelt with a bill on a small
silver tray.
SERVANT. Pardon me, madam, a man with a
box and a bill to collect.
BECKY. [Taking bill.] A bandbox
[She opens bill.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
BECKY. [To LAURA.] Oh, my dear, such a
duck of a hat! And only sixty-five dollars. I
244THE TR UTH
saw it on my way here and couldn't resist buying
Are hats a passion with you
LAURA. [Uninterested.] Yes, rather.
BECKY. I told them to send it C.O.D., but I
didn't suppose it would come till to-morrow and I
haven't a cent!
LAURA. I thought you said you wor a hundred
and fifty at bridge
BECKY. No, no, my dear, you misunderstood
me, I lost. [To SERVANT.] Tell the man if he can't
leave the box, to take it back and call later; say
Mrs. Warder is out.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
[Goes out with the bill, Lelt.
LAURA. You said you won at bridge!
BECKY. Oh, you tedious person! You hang
on to anything like a terrier, don't you! I said I
won because I didn't want Eve to think I'd lost;
244
THE TRUTH24
I never can bear to own up I've lost anything
before Eve. [Laughs, pulls LAURA by the arm.j]
Good-by!
LAURA. I won't go yet.
BECKY. [Urging her.] You must. I have an
engagement.
LAURA. With Fred Lindon!
BECKY. It is not. [SERVANT enters and an-
nounces "MR.LINDON." LINDON follows in. He
is surprised to see LAURA, bzst instantly covers his
surprise. Going to LINDON, quickly.] Oh, what a
surprise I
LINDON. Surprise Am I early
BECKY. [Indicating LAURA.] ShI Yes, sur-
prise. [LINDON sees LAURA and makes an amused
grimace.] But I can only give you a very few
minutes. I have an engagement, haven't I,
Laura
245
THE TR U TH
[As they shake hands.
LINDON. Oh, hello, Laura!
LAURA. [Very dryly.] How d'you do, Fred
LINDON. How's Eve
LAURA. [Embarrassed.] Very well -at least
not very - yes, she is of course very well ! She's
just left here.
[She adds this
pointedly.
LINDON. Oh! sorry I missed her! Give her
my regards when you see her, and say I'm glad
she's well.
[He goes to the piano, sits on the bench, and
plays.
LAURA. [Rises indignant.] I shaHl do nothing
of the kind.
[She starts to leave the room. LINDON runs what
he is playing into "Good-by, little girl, Good-
by."
246
THE TR U 24
BECKY. [Offering her hand.] Good-by.
LAURA. [Pretends not to see BECKY'S hand.]
Good-by.
[She goes out Left.
BECKY. [Going to the piano.] They both saw
you come back with me /
LINDON. [Still playing, improvising. Laugh-
ing.] No! Did they'
BECKY. [Laughing.] Yes, but it's no laughing
matter! Eve is jealous.
LINDON. [Stops playing.] What right has she
Did she expect me to sit alone in the drawing-
room for two months straining my ears to hear her
ring the front door bell
[He continues playing.
BECKY. They know we've been meeting every
day, -at least they think so. Have we
LINDON. [Still playing.] No!
247
248 THE TR UTH
BECKY. Yes, we havel Haven't we
LINDON. [Stops playing.] Well, yes, if you
wAant the truth.
BECKY. [Goes to sofa and sits.] There's no use
telling a story about it. I've nothing to be
ashamed of, -I did it with the best of motives.
LINDON. [Goes to BECKY.] Oh, don'. spoil it
all, Becky, with motives!
[He leans over the arm of the sofa to talk to her.
BECKY. [Laughs.] You know Eve mustn't be
jealous of me !
LLNDON. [Earnestly.] Now you're not going to
let her break up our little -
BECKY. [Interrupting.] Fred, how much do you
like me
LINDON. [Smiling.] I daren't tell youl
BECKY. No, I mean reallyl
LINDON. So do I I
THE TR U 249
BRECKY. I believe you are fond of me.
LINDON. I am I
BECKY. And I like you to be.
LINDON. [Placing his hand on hers on the sofa's
atrm.] Because
BECKY. [Slowly drawing her hand Irom his.] I
like men to like me, even though it really means
nothing.
LINDON. Nothing
[Rather chagrined.
BECKY. [Amused.] I like it for myself, and
besides I think it's a compliment to Tom!
LINDON. [M11ockingly.] Oh!