MRS. CARLEY. He isn't in a hurry, after all, Georgiana; let's all sit
down again.
[_They all sit._
GEORGIANA. [_Laughing, embarrassed._] Of course I don't want to urge
you off, Dick.
DICK. [_Rising._] No, but really, after all, I think I _must_ go.
[_All rise again._
GEORGIANA. No! Mother, I want to speak with Dick alone, before he goes;
you won't mind leaving us, will you, you and Sam?
[_Sam rises._
MRS. CARLEY. [_Unwilling._] Oh, no--Come along, Sam. We'll be on the
balcony when you pass, Dick; be sure to look up. Good-by.
[_Going._
DICK. [_Shaking her hand._] I'll look up.
COAST. [_At the door Right._] I'll go up and see the kids.
[COAST _looks at Dick and goes out very slowly with_ MRS. CARLEY.
GEORGIANA. I couldn't say good-by to you like that--I couldn't share my
good-by with mother; you understand that, don't you, Dick.
DICK. Yes, old girl, though if I had my way I wouldn't say good-by to
_you_ at all--I hate good-bys to people I care about.
GEORGIANA. Sit down just a few minutes.
[_They sit down by the table._
DICK. [_Sees the tie in her hands._] Busy making reins for Toots? What
an ugly color!
GEORGIANA. Is it? Well, it's a tie for you!
DICK. Oh--I mean it's ugly for reins, but perfectly lovely for a
tie--I'll take it with me.
[_Puts it in his pocket._
GEORGIANA. I wish I could go with you.
DICK. Don't you think you're needed here just at this moment?
GEORGIANA. Has Steve told you?
DICK. No, Coast did.
GEORGIANA. Don't you think I'm doing right?
DICK. If you love him, of course, old girl, you're doing right. I think
I must go now. [_Rises._] Good-by.
GEORGIANA. No, don't go yet, please. I can't bear to have you go.
DICK. It's good of you to care so much. [_Leans against the table._] You
know only yesterday I woke up and suddenly began to hope--
GEORGIANA. What--
DICK. Nothing; I don't hope it any more, anyway! I say, Georgiana,
you'll go around and see mother and father once in a while, won't you?
GEORGIANA. Of course I will--
DICK. It'll cheer them up a lot, you know--they feel so badly; it's
pretty tough on them, my leaving.
GEORGIANA. _I_ feel badly too--
DICK. That's jolly good of you.
GEORGIANA. And isn't it just a little _tough_ to leave me? Your oldest
friend almost, you know.
[_She adds this latter to cover up the sentiment which was coming too
near the surface._
DICK. Of course it is.
GEORGIANA. You haven't said so.
DICK. Still waters run deep, Georgy, and I--[_He moves away._] really, I
must be going.
GEORGIANA. [_Rising._] No, _don't_ go.
DICK. [_Looking at his watch._] I must.
GEORGIANA. No, let me see your watch. Yes, you have got three more
minutes. Please--sit down--
[_She persuades him to sit down again, and she reseats herself._
DICK. Have your own way!
GEORGIANA. Will there be fighting?
DICK. I hope so!
GEORGIANA. Oh, but what fighting! I've read, I know--ambushes and
tortures--their war is murder.
DICK. Yes, and that's why we're going out there to put an end to it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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