JINNY. No! _I'll_ read it to you! [_Reads with bitter emphasis._] "The satisfaction of the visit to Brooklyn prevents me from being disappointed at having missed your telegram till too late to go to your house to-night!" So--you and she went to Brooklyn, did you, and that's why you came back too late to go to the theatre with me? You _cheat_! [_She screams in her madness. A pause._] Why don't you answer--why don't you say something? AUSTIN. Because if I speak as I feel, I'm afraid of saying something I'll regret all my life! JINNY. You don't deny, then? AUSTIN. Yes! that is due to Ruth. Whatever you may feel about _me_, you have no _right_ to _insult_ her! JINNY. Oh, _there's more to_ the letter! AUSTIN. Jinny, don't you see what you're doing? JINNY. Yes, I'm getting at the truth at last! [_Reads._] "My heart aches for the blow you must have this evening! The man who loves you--" AUSTIN. You shan't read any more; you're mad now! [_Tearing the letter away from her._ JINNY. I don't need the letter, the words are burning in here! [_Pressing her hands to her forehead._] "The man who loves you isn't bad, only weak. However, I feel once we can shake off the burden of _this present marriage_"--oh! you--you _brute_ to say that!--"you will never have cause to complain of him again! So far I have been able to keep Jinny in perfect ignorance, but I feel the blow must fall upon her now--" [_Interrupted._ AUSTIN. Shall I tell you _the truth_? JINNY. You don't have to; I've found it out for myself! AUSTIN. [_In weariness, in disgust, in utter hopelessness._] No! what's the use. You've done it now--let it go! Let it all go--the whole thing! What's the use!--it's finished!-- [_A knock on the door at Right._] Come in! [_Maggie enters and closes the door behind her._ MAGGIE. Please, sir, Miss Chester came upstairs and made me knock again to see if there was an answer and if you will see her now or not. JINNY. [_Suddenly--aflame with her idea._] Yes! Maggie, show her in! AUSTIN. No, no! What do you want to do! I'll see Miss Chester to-morrow, Maggie. [_JINNY has crossed to the door, Right._ JINNY. Ruth! Ruth! RUTH. [_Off stage._] Yes? May I come? JINNY. _Do_ come in! [_She recrosses room; she and AUSTIN face each other for a second._ AUSTIN. [_In a lowered voice._] For God's sake, be careful! [_RUTH enters Right._ RUTH. Jinny! [_Going to her quickly to embrace her._ [_JINNY, without speaking, draws away and stares at her with a look of hatred. RUTH, seeing it, stops short, and looks from JINNY to AUSTIN for explanation--she turns to AUSTIN and gives him her hand, which he takes, presses, and drops; JINNY'S shoulders contract at this moment; RUTH immediately turns again to JINNY._ RUTH. What is it, Jinny? [_To AUSTIN._] Surely she doesn't blame _me_ in any way. JINNY. _Blame you!_ AUSTIN. She doesn't _know_.