[STEVEN _hesitates. He comes and takes her hand and is about to kiss
her, but something keeps him back; he presses her hand and she gives a
grateful look. She crosses to the dressing table and sits before it,
dazed. Slowly she takes the flowers from her hair, the pearls from her
neck. The front door slams, she lifts her head, and leaning her arm
toward_ DICK'S _picture, draws it toward her, gazing at it. Then,
crying, "Dick, Dick," she bursts into tears and drops her head upon her
arms outstretched on the table as_
THE CURTAIN FALLS
ACT IV
_Seven weeks later. The drawing-room as in Act II._ GEORGIANA, _in a
clinging black lace dress, is at the piano, playing "Traumerei." The
sunshine pours in through the windows._ MOLES _comes in apologetically
from the Left._
MOLES. Mr. Coast wants to know if you will see him, miss.
GEORGIANA. [_Who continues playing._] Very well, Moles.
MOLES. Shall I show him up?
[GEORGIANA _nods her head._ MOLES _goes out._ GEORGIANA _continues
playing. In a few seconds_ MOLES _reënters with_ COAST.
COAST. Good morning, Georgiana.
[GEORGIANA, _half smiling, bows very impersonally, and continues playing
till she finishes the music._ COAST _leans against the piano, facing
her, and watches her and waits._
GEORGIANA. [_When she has finished._] How long is it since you and I
have been friends?
COAST. It's five weeks and a couple of days--but it wasn't my fault.
GEORGIANA. Wasn't it? Well? What is it? Why do you want to see me?
COAST. Same reason as ever!
GEORGIANA. No,--you wouldn't ask me that now!
COAST. Yes, I would!
GEORGIANA. No, Sam! Love isn't a game with all women, if you lose with
one hand, to try another. Do you mean you think because Dick is dead,
it would be any more possible for me to care for you? I don't respect
you, Sam, and I don't like you,--and that's putting it very
politely,--for many reasons; but one's enough--_Steve_!
[COAST _looks away._
COAST. [_After a second's pause._] I've let you go on because I know I
deserve all I get; and I've caught on to the fact that you won't ever
care about me the way I want. Well, it's funny, it don't seem to make
much difference in my feelings for you all the same! [_Half laughs._] I
ain't exactly ashamed of what I've done, but I'm sort of _sorry_--for
_you_.
GEORGIANA. [_Rising._] I don't want your sympathy, Sam.
[_She comes away from the piano and he follows her._
COAST. Well, you've got to get it, anyway! That you can't help, and if
you can help loving me, you can't help my loving you! Anyway, I don't
want you to have to get out o' this house.
GEORGIANA. That is all settled now; we can't afford to live here, of
course.
COAST. Yes, you can.
GEORGIANA. No, no--Steve's salary--
COAST. Steve's leaving that job; he don't need that money any longer.
[_He looks at her, she looks in his face--a short pause; then--_
GEORGIANA. You don't mean you've given Steve--
COAST. Don't worry, I'm giving away nothing. Steve's got a new job.
GEORGIANA. What?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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