Her Own Way Part 15

PHILIP. [_Delighted, calls out._] Guess who! Guess who!

[GEORGIANA _motions to the children not to tell and moves away._

d.i.c.k. [_Hearing the voice from where he supposes the kiss came, he lakes off the bandage. He sees_ TOOTS _and is disappointed._] Why--I thought it was Georgiana! Toots! You rascal!

CHRISTOPHER. [_Trying to tell._] But Mr. d.i.c.k, Mr. d.i.c.k!

[TOOTS _laughs and claps hands._ GEORGIANA _gets hold of_ CHRISTOPHER _and holds her hand over his mouth._ GEORGIANA _and_ CHRISTOPHER _follow_ d.i.c.k _to the door Left._

GEORGIANA. [_To_ CHRISTOPHER, _to stop his telling._] s.h.!.+ [_To_ d.i.c.k.]

Good-by!

d.i.c.k. Good-by!

TOOTS. [_Wanting to tell._] But--

PHILIP. Good-by! Good-by!

GEORGIANA. Good-by d.i.c.k! Come soon again!

d.i.c.k. To-morrow!

GEORGIANA. I'll wait in all day!

CHRISTOPHER. But Mr. d.i.c.k, it was--

[GEORGIANA _hushes him with her hand over his mouth._

GEORGIANA. Good-by!

d.i.c.k. Good-by!

[_He goes out Left._

CHRISTOPHER, PHILIP, AND TOOTS. Good-by!

[GEORGIANA _bursts into tears and hugs_ TOOTS _on top of the table._

CHRISTOPHER. But it was you, Aunt Georgiana!

GEORGIANA. Don't any of you tell on auntie! You won't, will you? Let auntie have her own way.

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT II

_The drawing-room at the Carleys'. A handsome room in dark wood, with tapestry on the walls and an old portrait built in over the mantle. The furniture is gilt, Louis XVI, covered with old crimson brocade. There is a warmth about the room, a profusion of flowers, some books and magazines. A piano in the upper left-hand corner, a window with a balcony at Left. Doors Right and Left._ LOUISE _and_ MRS. CARLEY _are replacing the furniture, which has been disarranged. Out on the balcony_ MOLES _is seen, with_ PHILIP _and_ CHRISTOPHER, _arranging an American flag on the balcony bal.u.s.trade._

LOUISE. Thank goodness, the luncheon's over!

MRS. CARLEY. Yes, I thought they'd never go, and I've got the s.h.i.+ndle woman coming to do my hair.

LOUISE. I noticed it was getting a little dark at the wrong end, mother.

MRS. CARLEY. What was it Steve said this morning? It was always darkest before blond! Well, it's lucky I'm good-natured so long as I live in this family and don't want to grow old.

LOUISE. What are they doing on the balcony?

MRS. CARLEY. d.i.c.k Coleman's regiment marches by here this afternoon.

[_She sits by a table Right._

LOUISE. Do they start for the Philippines to-day?

MRS. CARLEY. Yes, and the President is to receive them in front of the Plaza.

LOUISE. [_Coming to her._] Have you noticed Steve?

MRS. CARLEY. No,--has he got a new suit?

LOUISE. No, something's troubling him. [_Thoughtfully._] I believe he's been speculating again and has lost.

MRS. CARLEY. He couldn't; he hasn't got anything more to lose.

LOUISE. [_Petulantly._] He hasn't played with the children for a week and he hates going out so lately,--wants to refuse every invitation!

Even the ones you and I've been patting ourselves on the back for getting! I can't stand it.

MRS. CARLEY. Quite right, too--if one doesn't go out, where can one go, and if we don't go anywhere, what are we to do? We can't stay home.

[_Rising, she crosses to mirror on table Left._] I say, dear, what about having my hair a little redder?

LOUISE. Let me see! [MRS. CARLEY _faces her_--LOUISE _examines her critically._] I wouldn't much; if you do, people will say you _dye_ it.

MRS. CARLEY. I don't care what they say, so long as they don't say it to my face. Have you had yours ma.s.saged this morning?

LOUISE. Yes, why?

[_Goes to mirror and, pus.h.i.+ng_ MRS. CARLEY _out of the way, examines her face in the gla.s.s._

MRS. CARLEY. Nothing, only I think you must have it done religiously, darling; the crow's feet are beginning to come.

[_Sits on sofa and begins to crochet on an afghan._