xt7mpg1hj60c https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7mpg1hj60c/data/mets.xml Fitch, Clyde, 1865-1909. 1905 books b92-203-30752354 English Macmillan ; Macmillan & Co., Ltd., : New York : London : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Girl with the green eyes : a play in four acts / by Clyde Fitch. text Girl with the green eyes : a play in four acts / by Clyde Fitch. 1905 2002 true xt7mpg1hj60c section xt7mpg1hj60c

THE GIRL WITH THE
GREEN EYES

- V o .1

The Girl with the

Green Eyes

A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS

CLYDE FITCH

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
NEW rORK MCMV
LONDON: MACMILLAN CO., LTD.

By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.

Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1905.

All acting rights, both professional and amateur, are reserved by Clyde
Fitch. Performances forbidden and right of representation reserved.
Apphcation for the right of performing this piece must be made to The
Macmillan Company. Any piracy or infringement "ill be prosecuted
in accordance with the penalties provided by the United States Stat-
utes: -
" SEC. 4966.-Any person publicly performing or representing any
dramatic or musical composition, for which copyright has been obtained,
without the consent of the proprietor of the said dramatic or musical
composition, or his heirs or assigns, shall be liable for damages therefor,
such damages in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than one
hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent per-
formance, as to the Court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful per-
formance and representation be wilful and for profit, such person or
persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be im-
prisoned for a period not exceeding one year." - U. S. REVISED
STATUrTLs, Title 60, Chap. 3.

XNrtooeb Press
J. S. Cushing X Co. - Berwick Smith Co.
-Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CLARA BLOODGOOD

GOOD FRIEND AND IDEAL INTERPRETER
OF " JINNY "

This page in the original text is blank.

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

ACT I. THE TILLMANS' HOUSE, NEW YORK.
The Wedding.

(Two months elapse.)

ACT II. THE VATICAN, ROME.
The Honeymoon.

(Three weeks elapse.)

ACT III. THE AUSTINS' HOUSE, NEW YORK.
Home.

(The night passes.)

ACT IV. THE SAME.
SCENE I. Dawn of the Next Day.
SCENE II. Early the Same Morning.

This page in the original text is blank.

THE PERSONS MORE OR LESS CON-
CERNED IN THE PLAY

"JINNY" AUSTIN.
MR. TILLMAN
r Her Parents.
MRS. TILLMAN )
GEOFFREY TILLMAN. Her Brother.
SUSIE. Hfe Cousin.
MISS RUTH CHESTER
MISS GRACE DANE
Her Bridesmaids.
MISS BELLE WESTING
MISS GERTRUDE WOOD,
MAGGIE. A/aid at /he Tillmnans'.
HOUSEMAID. At the Ti//mans'.
BUTLER. At the Til/mans'.
FOOTMAN. At the Ti//mans'.
JOHN AUSTIN.
,MRS. CULLINGHAM.
PETER CULLINCHAM. Her Son.
MRS. Lopp.
CARRIE. hfer Daughter.
A FRENCH COUPLE.
A GERMAN COUPLE.
A GUIDE.
A DRIVER.
A GROUP OF TOURISTS.

This page in the original text is blank.

Originally produced under the management of
Charles Frohman at the Savoy Theatre, New
York, on the 25th of December, 1902, with the
following cast: -

" Jinny " Austin
Mr. Tillman
Mrs. Tillman
Geoffrey Tillman .
Susie.
Miss Ruth Chester
Miss Grace Dane .
Miss Belle Westing
Miss Gertrude Wood
Maggie.
Housemaid .
Butler
Footman .
John Austin
Mrs. Cullingham.
Peter Cullingham
Mrs. Lopp .
Carrie .

A French Couple

A German Couple

A Guide.
A Driver

A Group of Tourists.

... . . Miss Clara Bloodgood
... . . .Mr. Charles Abbott
Mrs. Harriet Otis Dellenbaugh
. Mr. John M. Albaugh, Jr.
... . . Miss Edith Taliaferro
.. . . . . Miss Lucille Flaven
... . . . .Miss Mary Blyth
... . . . .Miss Helena Otis
. . . . . . Miss Felice Morris
... . . .Miss Lucile Watson
... . . . .Miss Angela Keir
Mr. Gardner Jenkins
... . .Mr. Walter Dickinson
... . . .Mr. Robert Drouet
... . . .Mrs. McKee Rankin
. . . . . Mr. Harry E. Asmus
... . . .Miss Ellen Rowland
... . . Miss Clara B. Hunter
5 Mr. Henry De Barry
. ' 4 Miss Louise Delmar
5 Mr. J. R. Cooley
.4... . . I Miss Elsa Ganett
... . . .Mr. Frank Brownlee
... . . . Mr. Lou W. Carter
Miss Elizabeth French
Miss Gertrude Bindley
Miss Myrtle Lane
11

This page in the original text is blank.

ACT I

A charming room in the Tillmans' house. The

walls are white woodwork, framing in old tapes-

tries of deep foliage design, with here and there

a flaming flamingo; white furniture with old,

green brocade cushions. The room is in the

purest Louis XVI. The noon sunlight streams

through a window on the left. On the oppo-

site side is a door to the hall. At back double

doors open into a corridor which leads to the

ballroom. At left centre are double doors to the

front hall. A great, luxurious sofa is at

the left, with chairs sociably near it, and on

the other side of the room a table has chairs

14 THE GIRL WISH THE GREEN E YES

grouped about it. On floral small table are

books and objets d'art, and everywhere there

is a profusion of white roses and maidenhair

fern.

In the stage directions Left and Right mean Left

and Right of actor, as he f1ces audience.

Three smart-looking SERVANTS are peering

through the crack of the folding door, their backs

to the audience. The pretty, slender MAID is on

a chair. The elderly BUTLER dignifiedly stands

on the floor. The plump, overfed little HOUSE-

MAID is kneeling so as to see beneath the head of

the BUTLER.

HOUSEMAID. [Gasping.] Oh, ain't it a beautiful

sight!

BUTLER. [Pompously.] Not to me who 'ave

seen a Lord married in Hengland.

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 15

MAGGIE. Oh, you make me sick, Mr. Potts,

always talking of your English Aristocracy! I'm

sure there never was no prettier wedding than this.

Nor as pretty a bride as Miss Jinny.

BUTLER. [Correcting her.] Mrs. Haustin!

HOUSEMAID. She looks for all the world like

one of them frosted angels on a Christmas card.

My, I wish I could 'a' seen her go up the aisle

with the organ going for all it was worth!

MAGGIE. It was a beautiful sight!

BUTLER. A good many 'appens to be 'aving

the sense to be going now.

HOUSEMAID. Could you hear Miss Jinny say

"I do," and make them other remarks

MAGGIE. Yes, plain, though her voice was

trembly like. But Mr. Austin he almost shouted!

[Laughing nervously in excitement.

BUTLER. 'E's glad to get 'er!

6 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

MAGGIE. And her himI

HOUSEMAID. Yes, that's what I likes about it.

Did any one cry

MAGGIE. Mrs. Tillman. Lots of people are

going now.

HOUSEMAID. What elegant clothes! Oh,

gosh !

BUTLER. [Superciliously.] Mrs. Cullingham

don't seem in no 'urry; she's a common lot!

MAGGIE. I don't care, she's rich and Miss Jinny

likes her; she just throws money around to any

poor person or church or hospital that wants it, or

don't! So she can't be so very common neither,

Mr. Potts!

HOUSEMAID. Say, I catch on to something!

Young Mr. Tillman's sweet on that there tall

bridesmaid.

MAGGIE. [Sharply.] Who

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 17

BUTLER. Miss Chester. I've seen there was

something goin' hon between them whenever

she's dined or lunched 'ere.

MAGGIE. [Angry.] 'Tain't true!

BUTLER. I'll bet my month's wages.

MAGGIE. I don't believe you!

BUTLER. Why, what's it to you, please

MAGGIE. [Saving herselj.] Nothing-

HOUSEMAID. Well, I guess it's truth enough.

That's the second time I've seen him squeeze her

hand when no one wasn't lookin'.

MAGGIE. Here, change places with me! [Getting

down /rom her chair.] If you was a gentleman, Mr.

Potts, you'd have given me your place!

[Witheringly.

BUTLER. If I was a gentleman, miss, I wouldn't

be here; I'd be on the other side of the door.

[He moves the chairs away.

i8 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

MAGGIE. [To Housemaid.] Honest, you saw

something between them

HOUSEMAID. Who

MAGGIE. Him and her Mr. Geoffrey and

Miss Chester -

HOUSEMAID. Cheese it / they're coming this

way!

[She and the MAID and the BUTLER vanish

through the door Right.
[GEOFFREY and RUTH enter through the double

doors quickly at back. GEOFFREY is a young,
good-looking man, but with a weak face. He

is of course very smartly dressed. RUTH is a

very serenely beautiful girl, rather noble in

type, but unconscious and unpretending in

manner. They close the doors quickly behind

them.

GEOFFREY. We'll not be interrupted here, and

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 19

I must have a few words with you before

you go.

[He follows her to the sofa where she sits, and

leans over it, with his arm about her shoulder.

RUTH. Oh, Geof, - Geof, why weren't we

married like this

GEOFFREY. It couldn't be helped, darling!

RUTH. It isn't the big wedding I miss, oh, no,

it's only it seemed sweeter in a church. Why

did we have to steal off to Brooklyn, to that poor,

strange little preacher in his stuffy back parlour,

and behave as if we were doing something of which

we were ashamed

GEOFFREY. YOU love me, I love you, -

isn't that the chief thing, dearest

RUTH. But how much longer must we keep

it secret

GEOFFREY. Till I can straighten my affairs

20 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

out. I can't explain it all to you; there are ter-

rible debts, - one more than all the others, - a

debt I made when I was in college.

RUTH. If I could only help you! I have a

little money.

GEOFFREY. No, I love you too much; besides,

this debt isn't money, and I hope to get rid of it

somehow before long.

RUTH. Forgive me for worrying you. It is

only that every one is so happy at this wedding

except me, - dear Jinny brimming over with joy,

as I would be, - and it's made me feel - a

little -

GEOFFREY. [Comes around the sofa and sits

beside her.] I know, dear, and it's made me feel

what a brute I am! Oh, if you knew how I hate

myself for all I've done, and for the pain and

trouble I cause you now !

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES 21

[MAGGIE, her sharp features set tense, appears

in the doorway on the left behind the curtains

and listens.

RUTH. Never mind, we won't think of that

any more.

GEOFFREY. I can never throw it off, not for

a minute! I'm a worthless fellow and how can

you love me-

RUTH. [Interrupting him.] I do! You are

worth everything to me, and you will be worth

much to the world yet!

GEOFFREY. I love you, Ruth - that's the one

claim I can make to deserve you. But it's helped

me to give up all the beastly pleasures I used to

indulge in!

RUTH. [Softly.] Geof!

GEOFFREY. Which I used to think the only

things worth living for, and which now, thanks

to you, I loathe, - every one of them.

22 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EES

RUTH. I'm so glad! I've been some help,

then.

GEOFFREY. If I'd only got you earlier, I'd

have been a different man, Ruth!

RUTH. [Smiling and taking his nervous hand

in hers.] Then I mightn't have fallen in love with

you if you were a diflerent man!

GEOFFREY. Dear girl! Anyway, this is the

good news that I want to tell you - I hope now

to have things settled in a couple of weeks.

RUTH. [In glad relie/.] Geoffrey!

GEOFFREY. But - I mayn't be successful; it

might be, Ruth - it might be, we would have to

wait - for years -

RUTH. [Quietly.] I don't think I could bear

that! It's not easy for me to lie and deceive

as I've had to the last few months; I don't think

I could keep it up.

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 23

[PETER CULLLNGHAM enters suddenly, from

the ballroom, a pale young man, but, unlike

GEOFFREY, hard and virile.

PETER. Oh, here you are! I say, are you two

spoony Just the way I feel! [Laughing.]

I caught and hugged old Mrs. Parmby just now!

I think it's sort of in the air at weddings, don't

you

GEOFFREY. [Rising.] I'm surprised to see

you've left the refreshment table, Peter.

PETER. They sent me to find Miss Chester -

they're going to cut the bridesmaid's cake, and

if you two really are spoony, Miss Chester, you'd

better not miss it- you might get the ring!

[They laugh as PETER takes out a bottle from

which he takes a round, black tablet which

he puts in his mouth.

RUTH. [Also rising.] I'd better go.

24 THE GIRL WI TH THE GREEN EYES

[PETER is making frantic efforts to swallow the

tablet.

GEOFFREY. [Noticing him.] What's the matter

with you

PETER. 0 dear! I've eaten so many ices and

fancy cakes, I've got awful indigestion, and I'm

trying to swallow a charcoal tablet.

RUTH. Come with me and get a glass of water.

PETER. No, it's very bad to drink water with

your meals; but I'll get a piece of bridesmaid's

cake - that'll push it down!

[PETER and RUTH go out through the double doors.

[The moment they are out of the room, MAGGIE

comes from behind the curtain and goes straight

up to GEOFFREY. He looks astonished and

frightened.

GEOFFREY. What do you want Have you

been listening

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES 25

MAGGIE. So that's it, is it You want to marry

her when you can get rid of me.

GEOFFREY. [With relief.] What do you mean

MAGGIE. Oh, I may not have heard everything,

but I heard and saw enough to catch on that

you're in love with Miss Chester.

GEOFFREY. Well

MAGGIE. Well, you won't marry her-I'll

never set you free.

GEOFFREY. Sh!

[Looking about and closing the doors.

MAGGIE. Oh, they're all in the dining room.

GEOFFREY. [Angry.] What do you want, any-

way

MAGGIE. [She pleads a little.] When I came

here to your house and got a position, it was

because I loved you, if you had treated me bad,

and I hoped by seeing you again, and being near

26 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES

you, you might come back to me and everything

be made straight!

GEOFFREY. Never! Never! It's impossible.

MAGGIE. [Angry again.] Oh, is it! Well, the

dirty little money you give me now only holds

my tongue quiet so long's you behave yourself

and don't run after any other girls! But the

minute you try to throw me down, I'll come out

with the whole story.

GEOFFREY. I was drunk when I married you!

MAGGIE. More shame to you!

GEOFFREY. You're right. But I was only

twenty - and you - led me on -

MAGGIE. [Interrupting him.] Me! led you on!

me, as decent and nice a girl as there was in

New Haven if I do do housework, and that's

my wedding ring and you put it there, and mother's

got the certificate locked up good and safe in her

THE GIRL WIT!! THE GREEN EYES 27

box with my dead baby sister's hair and the

silver plate off my father's coffin!

GEOFFREY. We mustn't talk here any more!

MAGGIE. You look out! If I wasn't so fond

of your sister Miss Jinny, and if the old people

weren't so good to me, I'd just show you right

up here - nowI

GEOFFREY. I'll buy you off if I can'tdivorce you!

MAGGIE. YOU! Pooff!

[GIRLS' voices are heard from the ballroom.

GEOFFREY. Look out - some one's coming!

MAGGIE. [Going.] You haven't got a red

cent; my cheque's always one of your father's!

[She goes out Right.

GEOFFREY. Good God! what am I going to

do - shoot myself, if I don't get out of this soon -

I must get some air!

[He goes out Left.

28 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES

[(jINNY opens the double doors, looks in, and

then enters. She is an adorable little human

being, pretty, high-strung, temperamental, full

of certain feminine fascination that defies analy-

sis, which is partly due to the few faults

she possesses. She is, nf course, dressed in

the conventional wedding-dress, a tulle veil

thrown over her face.

JiNNY. Not a soul! Come on!

[She is followed in by the four BRIDESMAIDS -

nice girls every one of them - and also, very

slyly, by SUSIE, a very modern spoiled child,

who sits unobserved out of the way at the

back.
Now, my dears, I wish to say good-by all by

ourselves so I can make you a little speech !

[All laugh gently.] In the first place I want to

tell you that there's nothing like marriage! And

THE GIRL WITH! THE GREEN E YES 29

you must every one of you try it! Really, I was

never so happy in my life!

GRACE. Must we stand, or may we sit

down

JINNY. Oh, stand; it won't be long and you'll

only crush your lovely frocks. In fact, I advise

you not to lose any time sitting down again until

you've got the happy day fixed!

RUTH. You know, Jinny darling, that there is

no one so glad for your happiness as your four

bridesmaids are -isn't that so, girls

ALL. Yes!

[And they all together embrace JINNY, saying,

"Dear old Jinny," "Darling Jinny," "We'll

miss you dreadfully," etc., ad lib., till they

get tearful.

JINNY. Good gracious, girls, we mustn't cry.

I'll get red eyes, and Jack'11 think what an awful

30 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

difference just the marriage service makes in a

woman.

[The doors at the back open, and AuSTIN appears

in the doorway.

[AusTIN is a typical New Yorker in appearance,

thirty-two years old, good-looking, manly, sel/-

poised, and somewhat phlegmatic in tempera-

ment.

AusnN. Hello! May a mere man come in to

this delectable tea party

JINNY. No, Jack! But wait-by the door

till I call you!

AusnN. [Amused.] Thank you!

[He goes out, closing the door.

GERTRUDE. We'll miss you so awfully, Jinny.

JINNY. Just what I say! Get a man to keep

you company, and then you won't miss any

one.

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 31

BELLE. Yes, but attractive men with lots of

money don't come into the Grand Central Station

by every train!

JINNY. [Putting her arm about her.] You want

too much, my dear Belle! And you aren't watch-

ing the Grand Central Station either half so much

as you are the steamer docks for a suitable person.

Now don't be angry; you know you want a good

big title, and you've got the money to pay, but,

my dear Belle, it's those ideas of yours that have

kept you single till - twenty-six! - now that

you must confess was nice of me, to take off

three years !

BELLE. [Laughing.] jinny, you're horrid!

JENNY. No, I'm not! You know I'm really

fond of you, or you wouldn't be my bridesmaid

to-day; it's only that I want your wedding to be as

happy as mine - that's all, and here's a little gift

32 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES

for you to remember your disagreeable but loving

friend by! [Giving her a small jewelry box.

BELLE. Thank you, Jinny! Thank you!

[A little moved.

GRACE. Mercy! I hope you're not going to

take each one of us!

JLNNY. I am, and come here, you're next!

GRACE. I'll swear I don't want to get married

at all!

JrN.zx. Don't be silly, you icicle! Of course

you don't; you freeze all the men away, so that

you've no idea how nice and comfy they can be!

My advice to you, Grace darling, - and I love

you, or I wouldn't bother,-is to thaw! [Laughs.]

I used to be awfully jealous of you -

GRACE. [Interrupting.] Oh l

JINNY. Yes, I was! You're lots prettier than

I am.

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 33

GRACE. Jinny!

JINNy. You are! But I got over it because I

soon saw you were so cold, there was no danger

of any conflagration near you! Oh, I've watched

your eyes often to see if any man had lighted the

fires in them yet. And now I'm determined they

shall be lighted. You're too cold! Thaw, dear,

- not to everybody, - that would be like slushy

weather, but don't keep yourself so continually

so far below zero that you won't have time to

strike - well - say eighty-five in the shade,

when the right bit of masculine sunshine does

come along! Here -with my best love!

[Giving her a smaIl jewelry box.

[GRACE kisses JINNY.

GERTRUDE. I am the next victim, I believe

JINNy. All I've got to say to you, Miss, is,

that if you don't decide pretty soon on one of the

no THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

half dozen men you are flirting with disgrace/ully

at present, they'll every one find you out and

you'll have to go in for widowers.

GERTRUDE. [Mockingly.] Horrors!

JINNY. Oh, I don't know! I suppose a widower

is sort of broken in and would be more likely to

put up with your caprices! For the sake of your

charm and wit and true heart underneath it all,

you dear old girl you!

[Giving her a small jewel box.

GERTRUDE. Thank you, Jinny. I'm only

afraid I will do the wrong thing with you away!

You know you're always my ballast!

JINNY. Nonsense! Female ballast is no good;

masculine ballast is the only kind that's safe if

you want to make life's journey in a love balloon.

[SHE turns to RUTH CHESTER.] Ruth - the

trouble with you is, you're too sad lately, and

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES 35

show such a lack of interest. I should think you

might be in love, only I haven't been able to find

the man. Anyway, if you aren't in love, you

must pretend an interest in things. Of course,

men's affairs are awfully dull, but they don't

like you to talk about them, so it's really very

easy. All you have to do is listen, stare them

straight in the eyes, think of whatever you like,

and look pleased! It does flatter them, and they

think they are interesting, and you charmingl

Wear this, and think of me! [Giving her a box.]

and be happy! I want you to be happy -and

I can see you aren't!

RUTH. [Kissing her.] Thank you, dear!

JINNY. There, that's all! - except - when I

come home from abroad in October, if every one

of you aren't engaged to be married, I'll wash my

hands of you - [They all laugh.

36 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

[SUsIE, sliding ofi her chair at back, comes

forward.

SUSIE. Now, it's my turn! You can't chuck

me!

JINNY. [Trying not to laugh.] Susie! where

did you come from and what do you mean

SUSIE. Oh, you give me a pain! - I went up

the aisle with you to-day, too - what's the matter

with telling me how to get married!

JiNNxr. I'll tell you this, your language is

dreadful; where do you get all the boy's slang

You don't talk like a lady.

SUSIE. I'm not a lady. I'm a little girl!

JINmy. You talk much more like a common

boy.

SUSIE. Well, I'd rather be a boy!

JINNY. Susie, I shall tell Aunt Laura her

daughter needs looking after.

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 37

SUSIE. Oh, very well, cousin Jinny. If you're

going to make trouble, why, forget it!

[Turns and goes out haughtily, Right.

JINNY. [Going to the double doors, calls.]

Now you can come in, Jack.

[AUSTIN enters.

AUSTIN. And now I've only time to say good-

by. All your guests have gone except the Cul-

linghams, who are upstairs with your mother,

looking at the presents.

GERTRUDE. Come! All hands around him!

[The five GIRLS join hands, with AUSTIN itn

the centre.

BELLE. We don't care if every one else has

gone or not, we're here yet!

AUsTIN. So I see! But I am ordered by my

father-in-law - ahem! [all laugh] - to go to

my room, or he thinks there will be danger of

our losing our train.

38 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN E YES

ALL THE BRIDESMAIDS. [Ad lib.] Where are

you going Where are you going We won't

let you out till you tell us.

AusnN. I daren't - I'm afraid of my wife !

JINNY. Bravo, Jack !

GRACE. Very well, then, we'll let you out, on.

one condition, that you kiss us all in turn.

[The GIRLS laugh.

JINNY. No! No! [Breaking away.] He shan't

do any such thing!

[They all laugh and break up the ring.

GERTRUDE. Dear me, isn't she jealous!

BELLE. Yes, it is evidently time we all went!

Good-by, Jinny! [Kissing her.] A happy jour-

ney to Washington!

Jnow. No, it isn't!

[General good-bys. JmnwY begins with RUTHI
as one end, and AUSTIN at the other; he

THE GIRL WIT7H THE GREEN E YES 39

says good-by and shakes hands uith each

girl.

GERTRUDE. [Kissing JINNY.] Good-by, and

a pleasant trip to Niagara Fallsl

JINNY. Not a bit!

GRACE. [Kissing JINNY.] Good-by, I believe

it's Boston or Chicago!

JINNY. Neither!

RUTH. Good-by, dear, and all the happiness

in the world!

[Kisses her.

JINNY. Thank you.

[She turns and goes with the other three girls

to the double doors at back, where they are

heard talking.

RUTH. Mr. Austin

AUSTIN. Yes

[Joining her.

40 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

RuTH. [Embarrassed.] You like your new

brother, don't you

AUSTIN. Geoff most certainly I do, and Jinny

adores him.

RUTH. I know, then, you'll be a good friend

to him if he needs one.

AUSTIN. Surely I will.

RuTH. I think he does need one.

AUSTIN. Really -

[The GIRLs are passing out through the doors.

BELLE. Come along, Ruth.

[THEY pass out and JINNY stands in the doorway

talking to them till they are out of hearing.

RUTH. Sh! please don't tell any one, not even

jinny, what I've said! I may be betraying

something I've no right to do, and don't tell him

I've spoken to you.

AusimN. All rightl

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 41

[JiNNY turns around in the doorway.

RUTH. Thank you - and good-by.

[Shaking his hand again.
[JINNY notices that they shake hands twice.

A queer little look comes into her face.

AusniN. Good-by.

RuTm. Have they gone - Oh! [Hurrying past

JINNY.] Good-by, dear.

[She goes out through the double doors.

JiNNY. [In a curious little voice.] Good-by . . .

[She comes slowly down the room toward AusTIN,

and smiles at him quizzically.] What were you

two saying

AusTmI. Good-by!

JrNNr. But you'd said it once to her already!

Why did you have to say good-by twice to Ruth

Once was enough for all the other girls!

Austin. [Banteringly.] The first time I said

42 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

good-by to her, and the second time she said

good-by to me!

JiNN-w. Do you know what I believe -Ruth

Chester's in love with you!

AusTIN. Oh, darling!

[Laughs.

JiNNy. Yes, that explains the whole thing. No

wonder she was triste to-day.

AUSTIN. [Laughing.] Jinny, sweetheart, don't

get such an absurd notion into your head.

JINNY. [Looks straight at him a moment, then

speaks tenderly.] No - no - I know it's not your

fault. There was no other woman in this house

for you to-day but me, was there

AusnN. There was no other woman in the

world for me since the first week I knew you.

[Taking her into his arms.

JINNY. This is good-by to Jinny Tillman!

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 43

[He kisses her.

Jack, darling, do you think I could sit on your

knee like a little child and put my arm around

your neck and rest my head on your shoulder

for just five seconds-I'm so tired!

[MRS. CULLINGHAM opens the door.

MIRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh!

[Shuts the door very quickly and knocks.

[JINNY and AUSTIN laugh.

JINNY. Yes, yes -come in!

[MRS. CULLINGHAm enters. She is a handsome,

whole-souled, florid woman; one of those

creatures of inexhaustible vitality who make

people of a nervous tenperament tired almost

on contact by sheer contrast. She is the

kindest, best meaning creature in the world.

MRS. CULLLNGHAM. Oh, do excuse me! I

haven't any more tact! -and I hate to inter-

44 THE GIRL WITff THE GREENE EYES

rupt you, but I must say good-by. [Calls.]

Peter !

PETER. Yes'm.

[Entering with a glass of water and a powder.

He sits in the arm-chair at right, and con-

stantly looks at his watch.

AusT=N. I'm much obliged to you, Mrs. Cul-

lingham, for the interruption, as I was sent long

ago to make myself ready for the train, if you'll

excuse me!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Certainly!

JuNwy. Good-by!

[Taking his hand as he passes her.

AusTiN. Good-by!

[He goes out Right.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. If it's time for him, it's

certainly time for you. I won't keep you a

minute!

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 45

JiNNY. No, really we've plenty of time, - [both

sit on sofa.] Wasn't it a lovely wedding!

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 some-

thing 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

46 THE GIRL WIT!! TILE GREEN E YES

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 wiere one of our best

friends.

MRS. CULLLNGHAM. 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.

THE GIRL WITH THlE GREEN EYIES 47

MRS. CULLINGFIAM. 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 leding

it! [He turns aside.] Excuse me!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. I was just telling Mrs.

Austin -

[Interru pled

JINNY. "Jinny" -don't change.

MRS. CULLINGFIAM. Thank you - [Rises to

go.] I was just saying we won't forget in

our social life, will we, Peter, that Miss

48 THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES

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. CULLINGMQ. 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 !

JwNyN. Mother!

[MRS. TILLMAN tnters.

JmNwY. I ought to dress

MRS. TILLMAN. [To MRS. CuULLNGAM.] She'll

be late if she isn't careful.

JINNY. I'm going to. Is Maggie there

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES 49

MRS. TILLMN. Yes, waiting!

JINNY. Good-by. [Kisses MRS. CULLINGHA.]

Good-by. [Shakes PETER'S hand.]

PETER. Many happy returns!

[JINNv 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.

[PE