BELLA. Oh, it's all the same to me! Mrs. Wishings ain't really in the smart set and they say her husband ain't so rich, and she's horrid to her servants--don't give them cake. I don't care if I lost her head to do! I'm like that, as you know, particular when I'm particular, but--well--just supercilious and negligee when it don't count! Good gracious! [_Laughing._] Oh, here's a letter for you I brought up for Lizzie. It's from the Phillypeenys and has a special delivery on.

[GEORGIANA _takes letter and opens it and reads it._] That's how it come at this hour. Some folks do have luck, as the saying is! I've got to wait till to-morrow morning for mine if I get one, and if there's a Phillypeeny post and I don't get one, well, I pity the ladies' hair I dress to-morrow, that's all! [_To_ STEVEN.] Mr. Carley, you've got lovely soft hair, haven't you? I know you have a lovely disposition, I can tell it from your hair. Yes, indeed, they always go together, it's a certain sign! Now Mrs. Wishings' hair is just like a horse's tail! what there is of it. I often feel like asking her which she'd rather I done it, on or off! [_Laughs heartily._] I must have my little joke, but n.o.body minds me--good-by.

STEVEN. Good-by.

[BELLA _goes out Left._

GEORGIANA. [_Looking up, bursting with happiness and reading as she speaks._] Oh, Steve! Steve! Such _good_ news! I can hardly wait to tell you, but just let me finish it.

STEVEN. Finish anything that means good news, Georgy, and then for heaven's sake tell me what it is.

GEORGIANA. [_Closing the letter._] It's finished!

[_She looks up radiant and forgetful of him for a moment._

STEVEN. Well!

[_Rises and goes to_ GEORGIANA.

GEORGIANA. [_Softly._] _d.i.c.k_ loves me!

STEVEN. d.i.c.k Coleman?

GEORGIANA. He loves me, he's always loved me!

STEVEN. But why--? I don't understand--

GEORGIANA. No, I didn't know it. I thought--there were reasons why I thought he didn't love me. But I understand now. Listen; I'll read you a part of his letter--_a part of it!_ Oh, this makes up for everything, Steve. [_She reads._] "My dear--[_She stops and improvises the next three words._] my dear Georgy: [_She looks up slyly to see if Steven noticed the change; he didn't._] Each steamer brings me letters from home, but never a word of your engagement to Coast, never a word of your marriage. Is that broken off--" How do you suppose he got the impression I was going to marry Sam?

STEVEN. Why everybody has seen, who cared to look, that Sam was dead in love with you.

GEORGIANA. Yes, but--well--never mind, listen--"Well, however it is, we're starting off to-morrow out of reach of letters and everything else, except an ugly band of natives that we came here to do for. The chances are pretty big against many of us getting back, and anyway I'm going to take this chance to tell you that I love you better than anything and everything and everybody in the world. And in case I never come back, somehow or other, I don't know why, I want you to know it. I was a little late in finding it out,--all of a sudden I knew you were the only woman for me, and that the only thing I seemed to want in the world was you for _a wife_. And there was Coast ahead of me! I don't know if it would have made any difference if you loved Coast and not me, perhaps you never would have cared for me, but I'd have done my best, for, Georgy--I love you"--[_She reads ahead to herself, murmuring so he cannot understand._] "I don't know why I must tell you all this, but I must"--[_She reads ahead again in silence, skipping the pa.s.sages which are too loving and too precious to read aloud._] I think that's all--[_She looks up and smiles, and adds softly._] that I care to read aloud! Oh, Steve!

[_She puts her arms around his neck and hugs him._

STEVEN. I'm so glad, old girl, so glad!

[_Tightening his arm about her._

GEORGIANA. Steve, I'm so happy! I don't want to seem selfish, and really I'm not forgetting you, but I can't help it. I'm _so_ happy.

[STEVEN _kisses her. A short pause._

GEORGIANA. [_Softly, thoughtfully._] Can one cable to the Philippines?

STEVEN. Yes!

[_Smiling and again giving her a little squeeze._

GEORGIANA. [_Going to the sofa._] So far as I'm concerned, my money now doesn't count a rap. d.i.c.k has plenty and doesn't want mine. So now it's only Louise and mother you must think of, and you can take care of them well, you know you can, if they'll only accept the different conditions.

And d.i.c.k and I'll help--

STEVEN. [_Interrupting._] I hate to say it, Georgiana, but suppose--

[_Very serious._

GEORGIANA. What?

STEVEN. Well, you know why d.i.c.k wrote that letter,--because he was going into dangerous fighting.

GEORGIANA. Oh, he will come back, he _must_ come back! So few of our men have been lost in the Philippines, d.i.c.k can't be one of the few. After all, life nowadays isn't so tragic as that.

STEVEN. Yes, of course d.i.c.k'll come back, Georgy [_Short pause._], but won't he despise me?

GEORGIANA. No, you're _my_ brother. And oh, Steven, forgive me, but I'm so _happy_. [_Hugging the pillows on the sofa and burying her face in them._] Don't let me be silly--don't let me forget I'm an old maid,--and there's no fool like an old fool! I mustn't forget there's probably an orange or two among the blossoms for my hair!

[MRS. CARLEY _and_ LOUISE _come into the room from the Right without speaking. They look from_ GEORGIANA _to_ STEVEN. _They are under the strain of violent emotion almost too much for words. Their appearance is tragic._] _There is a pause._

STEVEN. Sam has told you?

LOUISE. It isn't _true_ what he says?

MRS. CARLEY. [_Bursting out, as the strain breaks._] That everything's gone? _Everything!_

[MRS. CARLEY _comes to_ STEVEN.

STEVEN. Yes, it's _true_!--

[_He moves up._

MRS. CARLEY. _We haven't a cent?_--not a _penny_! for car fare! for theatre tickets! nothing for our wash bills, or to go away with in the summer!

LOUISE. Georgiana's money gone too--now, Steve?

MRS. CARLEY. As well as _Louise's_ and _mine_?

GEORGIANA. Yes, mine's gone too now, but I'm going to take it just as sensibly as Louise did before me.

MRS. CARLEY. She had yours to fall back on.

GEORGIANA. And I'm going to take myself off your hands, and Steve is perfectly capable of getting some dignified position and taking care of you and Louise.

MRS. CARLEY. Yes, I can imagine what that means! A flat with rooms like a string of b.u.t.tons, mantelpiece beds and divans! and all your friends trying to get into the bathroom when they are looking for the hall door to get out!

[COAST _comes in from the Right. They all look at_ SAM.

GEORGIANA. Do you think Sam has a place here in what we may say now?

LOUISE. Why not? He's my cousin.