er this morning. The divorce
holds. She's a free woman. She can marry whom she likes. [_The organ
is heard, very softly played._] Is that Cynthia? [_He rises quickly._

VIDA. It's the organ!

JOHN. [_Overwhelmingly excited._] By George! I should never have come!
I think I'll go.

[_He makes a movement toward the door._

VIDA. [_Rises and follows him remonstratingly._] When I need you?

JOHN. I can't stand it.

VIDA. Oh, but, Jack--

JOHN. Good-night!

VIDA. I feel quite ill. [_Seeing that she must play her last card to
keep him, pretends to faintness; sways and falls into his arms._] Oh!

JOHN. [_In a rage, but beaten._] I believe you're putting up a fake.

_The organ swells as_ CYNTHIA _enters sweepingly, dressed in
full evening dress for the wedding ceremony._ JOHN, _not
knowing what to do, keeps his arms about_ VIDA _as a horrid
necessity._

CYNTHIA. [_Speaking as she comes in, to_ MATTHEW.] Here I am.
Ridiculous to make it a conventional thing, you know. Come in on the
swell of the music, and all that, just as if I'd never been married
before. Where's Philip? [_She looks for_ PHILIP _and sees_ JOHN _with_
VIDA _in his arms. She stops short._

JOHN. [_Uneasy and embarrassed._] A glass of water! I beg your pardon,
Mrs. Karslake-- [_The organ plays on._

CYNTHIA. [_Ironical and calm._] Vida!

JOHN. She has fainted.

CYNTHIA. [_Cynically._] Fainted? [_Without pausing._] Dear, dear,
dear, terrible! So she has. [SIR WILFRID _takes the flowers from a
vase and prepares to sprinkle_ VIDA'S _forehead with the water it
contains._] No, no, not her forehead, Sir Wilfrid, her frock! Sprinkle
her best Paquin! If it's a real faint, she will not come to!

VIDA. [_Coming quickly to her senses as her Paris importation is about
to suffer._] I almost fainted.

CYNTHIA. Almost!

VIDA. [_Using the stock phrase as a matter of course, and reviving
rapidly._] Where am I? [JOHN _glances at_ CYNTHIA _sharply._] Oh, the
bride! I beg every one's pardon. Cynthia, at a crisis like this, I
simply couldn't stay away from Philip!

CYNTHIA. Stay away from Philip? [JOHN _and_ CYNTHIA _exchange
glances._

VIDA. Your arm, Jack; and lead me where there is air.

JOHN _and_ VIDA _go into the further room. The organ stops._
SIR WILFRID _and_ CYNTHIA _are practically alone in the
room._ JOHN _and_ VIDA _are barely within sight. He is first
seen to take her fan and give her air; then to p