I are parted---- [_Breaks down._] I can't bear it!
I can't bear it!
_Dolly._ Try, dear! Try!
_Renie._ [_Sobbing._] I will. And if at any time I long to hear how he
bears our separation, you won't mind receiving a letter, and sending it
on to me?
_Dolly._ I'm afraid I couldn't do that, dear. You see, I'm so careless,
and if I left the letter about, and Harry found it--no, dear----
_Renie._ You won't help me?
_Dolly._ Yes, dear, I'll do anything in my power! [_Suddenly._] I'll
tell you what I can do!
_Renie._ Yes?
_Dolly._ My father is telling Lucas he must leave to-night. Well, I can
spare you all the pain and misery of saying "Good-bye," and take one
last message to him.
_Renie._ [_Curtly._] No, thank you. It's most unkind of you to send him
away like this. I must see him alone before he goes.
_Dolly._ [_Shakes her head._] My father insists, and suppose Lucas feels
that he owes it to your reputation to go quietly----
_Renie._ Without seeing me?!
_Dolly._ And suppose the Professor is really watching you----
[RENIE shows great perplexity. DOLLY _is watching her._
_Dolly._ If you don't see Lucas, what message shall I take him?
_Renie._ Tell him how proud I am of his noble, unselfish devotion; tell
him I shall always look upon it as the one supreme happiness of my life
to have known him----
_The_ PROFESSOR _and_ MATTHEW _enter. The_ PROFESSOR _has diagrams
and illustrations in his hand. Following the_ PROFESSOR _and_ MATT
_are_ HARRY _and_ LUCAS. LUCAS, _after a little time, comes up to_
DOLLY _and_ RENIE, _who are seated on sofa. The_ PROFESSOR _is
speaking to_ MATT _as he enters, and is showing him an
illustration._
_Prof._ [_In his hard, metallic voice._] Observe that woman's facial
angle--[_pointing_] the peculiar curve of the lip, and the irregular
formation of the nose.
[_Describing a little upward curve on the paper with his thumb._
_Matt._ I have seen sweeter things in ladies' lips and noses.
[_Describing the same little upward curve with his thumb on the
paper._
_Prof._ Can you be surprised at her history?
_Matt._ Who was she?
_Prof._ Jane Sweetman, the notorious trigamist. Looking at that woman's
cranium I maintain it was impossible for her to avoid----
_Matt._ Committing trigamy?
_Prof._ Well, some species of grave moral delinquency.
[DOLLY _clutches_ RENIE'S _wrist significantly. The_ PROFESSOR
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