s!

AUSTIN. Oh, Jinny! I _did_! Forgive me! I'm awfully sorry! I've got a
lot on my mind to-day.

[_Tries to put his arms about her and kiss her. She pushes herself
away from him, refusing to let him kiss her._

JINNY. Yes--I know you have-- [_At door Left._] --I'll leave you two to
your confidences. You can trust Geof; he just now refused to betray you.

[_AUSTIN only looks at her fixedly, seriously. She looks back at him
with bravado. Then she deliberately crosses the room, gets the cable,
and recrosses with it and goes out Left._

AUSTIN. Poor Jinny! [_Turning to GEOFFREY._] and that, too, lies largely
on your already overcrowded shoulders.

GEOFFREY. [_Breaking down._] I know! I know!

AUSTIN. [_Sitting in the corner of the sofa._] Here, don't cry! You've
got to be strong now, and you've no use nor time for crying. I've had
another long interview with the Brooklyn minister.

GEOFFREY. Yes?--

AUSTIN. [_Drawing a chair near to him and sitting._] Well, of course we
both know that he's doing wrong to keep silent, but he will. He wishes I
hadn't told him, because he thinks he'd never have noticed your divorce
from Maggie when it was granted--nor remembered your name if he had seen
it in the papers.

GEOFFREY. That's what I _told_ you!

AUSTIN. _You_ only argued that for fear I'd insist on _your_ going to
this minister yourself. But in the bottom of your heart you know it was
a risk we couldn't afford to run. I've explained everything to him--how
such a fine, sweet girl would suffer if he did expose you, and I gave
him my word you would be remarried to Ruth at once after the divorce. Of
course we both know it's wrong, but we both hope the end justifies the
means that removes difficulty number two.

GEOFFREY. You're sure about Maggie?

AUSTIN. She's signed a paper; she realizes you'll never live with her,
and--it's pathetic--she loves you--that girl, too--so much as to give
you your freedom--Good Lord! what is it about you weak men that wins
women so? What is it in _you_ that has made two women love _you_ to such
a self-sacrificing extent?

GEOFFREY. [_Half tragic, half comic laugh._] I give it up!

AUSTIN. [_Bitterly._] So do I. Well, Maggie is to have six hundred
dollars a year.

GEOFFREY. Where'll I get it?

AUSTIN. We'll talk about that when the time comes. [_He rises._] _Now_
the most important, the most painful, task of all must be done and _you_
must do it. _Not I this time--you!_