If it’s about the thing I’ve been speaking of, I’d rather hear it in your voice. JANE (_reads_) “My dear Jane, the doctor tells me I haven’t long to live, and so I’m doing this, the meanest thing I think I’ve ever done to you. I’m leaving you the Jordan money. Since my husband died, there has been just one person I could get to care about; that’s Ben, who was my baby so long after all the others had forgotten how to love me. And Ben’s a bad son, and a bad man. I can’t leave him the money; he’d squander it, and the Jordans’ money came hard.” JUDGE Poor woman! It was a bitter thing for her to have to write like that. JANE (_reads on_) “If squandering the money would bring him happiness, I’d face all the Jordans in the other world and laugh at them, but I know there’s only just one chance to save my boy,--through a woman who will hold out her heart to him and let him trample on it, as he has on mine.” JUDGE (_in sudden fear_) Jane! JANE (_reads on_) “Who’d work, and pray, and live for him, until as age comes on, and maybe he gets a little tired, he’ll turn to her. And you’re that woman, Jane; you’ve loved him ever since you came to us. Although he doesn’t even know it. The Jordan name is his, the money’s yours, and maybe there’ll be another life for you to guard. God knows it isn’t much I’m leaving you, but you can’t refuse it, because you love him, and when he knows the money is yours, he will want to marry you. I’m a wicked old woman. Maybe you’ll learn to forgive me as time goes on--It takes a long time to make a Jordan.” (_Jane drops her hand to her side_) Then she just signed her name. JUDGE Is the damnable thing she says there true? JANE Yes, Judge. JUDGE And you’re going to do this thing for her? JANE No, for him. JUDGE (_bitterly_) He isn’t worth it. JANE I guess you don’t understand. JUDGE No. [_He crosses and picks up his coat._ JANE You can’t go like that, angry. You have to pay a price for being a good man, Judge--I need your help. JUDGE You mean _he_ needs my help? JANE Yes, and you’ll have to give it to him, if what you said a little while ago was true. JUDGE (_after a pause_) It _was_ true, Jane. I’ll help him. [_He picks up his hat._ JANE I’ve an errand at the store. I’ll go with you. [_She takes hat and coat from rack and puts them on._ JUDGE Is it anything I could have sent up for you? JANE (_putting on coat_) I guess not. You see, I’ve got to match a color. JUDGE Another new dress? JANE (_they start toward door_) Just a ribbon, for my hair. JUDGE I didn’t know women still wore ribbons in their hair. JANE It seems they do--in France. [_They exit together at left to the outside door and off._ _Nettie and Ella enter quickly, after a slight pause, Nettie running in from right, followed more sedately by Ella._ NETTIE You see! I was right! She went with him.