THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF TULLIUt P. WREDEH THE TRUTH The Truth A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS By CLYDE FITCH NEW YORK SAMUEL FRENCH PUBLISHER 24 WEST 220 STREET Reprinted by permission o LONDON SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. 26 SOUTHAMPTON ST. STRAND 'The Macmillan Company THE TRUTH ACT I. AT THE WARDERS', NEW YORK Thursday Afternoon. ACT II. AT THE WARDERS'. Saturday Afternoon, just after lunch. ACT III. AT STEPHEN ROLAND'S, BALTIMORE. Saturday Night. ACT IV. AT STEPHEN ROLAND'S. Monday Morning. vii THE PERSONS IN THE PLAY WARDER. ROLAND. LINDON. SERVANT AT THE WARDERS'. BECKY WARDER. EVE LINDON. LAURA ERASER. MRS. GENEVIEVE CRESPIGNY. MESSENGER BOY. Produced in Cleveland, Ohio, October, 1906, and later played at The Criterion and Lyceum Theatres, New York, with the following cast : Warder William J. Kelly *Roland J. E. Dodson Lindon George Spink Servant at the Warders' Hodgson Taylor Becky Warder Clara Bloodgood Eve Lindon Mrs. Sam Sothern Laura Fraser Elene Fraser Mrs. Genevieve Crespigny Zelda Sears Messenger Boy Frederick Harrison * Played in New York by William B. Mack, and also by John Emerson. Produced at the Comedy Theatre, London, April 6, 1907, with the following cast: Warder Allan Aynesworth Roland Dion Boucicault Lindon Dawson Mil ward Servant at the Warders' Horton Cooper Becky Warder Marie Tempest Eve Lindon Grace Lane Laura Fraser Sybil Carlisle Mrs. Genevieve Crespigny Rosina Filippi Messenger Boy Donald Calthrop ACT I At MRS. WARDER'S. An extremely attractive room, in the best of taste, gray walls with dull soft green mouldings, old French chintz curtains, furniture painted to match the walls and covered with the same chintz. Some old colored engrav ings are on the mantel shelf and a couple of eighteenth-century French portraits on the watt. On the Left is a mantel, and near it a large writ ing table against the back of a low sofa which faces the audience; on the table a telephone; an arm-chair and a small table on the Left; a Baby Grand piano in the upper left corner of the room. Some consols and tables in the room; four windows at the back, through which one sees the B I 2 THE TRUTH park. Doors, Right and Left; books, photo graphs, flowers, etc., on the tables and consols. A smart, good-looking man-servant, JENKS, shows in MRS. LINDON and LAURA FRASER. The ' former is a handsome, nervous, overstrung woman of about thirty-four, very fashionably dressed; Miss FRASER, on the contrary, a matter-of-fact, rather commonplace type of good humor wholesomeness united to a kind sense of humor. MRS. LINDON is the sort of woman warranted to put any one on edge in the course of a few hours' consecutive association, while friction with Miss FRASER is equally certain to smooth down the raw edges. MRS. LINDON. [Coming in to a chair near the Centre with quick determination.] You have no idea when Mrs. Warder will be in? SERVANT. No, madam. THE TRUTH 3 MRS. LINDON. She was lunching out? SERVANT. Yes, madam. LAURA. [With a movement to go.] Come ! She may be playing bridge and not come home for hours. MRS. LINDON. [Firm, though irritable.] I will wait till half-past .five. [To SERVANT.] If Mrs. Warder comes in before that, we will be here. [Nervously picks up check-book from the writ ing-table, looks at it but not in it, and puts it down. SERVANT. Very good, madam. [Goes out Left. LAURA. [Goes to EVE.] My dear, you must control yourself. That man, if he has half a servant's curiosity, could easily see you are ex cited. MRS. LINDON. Yes, but think ! She's been 4 THE TRUTH meeting Fred probably every day for the last two months, although she knew I had left his house, and always pretended to me she never saw him! [Sitting beside the writing-table. LAURA. [Sitting Left.] You shouldn't have come here at once. You should have waited till you had time to think over your information and calm yourself a little. MRS. LINDON. I couldn't wait ! Becky ! One of my oldest friends ! One of my bridesmaids ! LAURA. What! MRS, LINDON. No, she wasn't, but she might have been; she was my next choice if any one had backed out. LAURA. Probably Fred's appealing to her sympathy, you know your own husband ! MRS. LINDON. [With a disagreeable half -laugh.] THE TRUTH 5 Yes, I know him better than she does ! What I don't like is her secrecy about it after I'd made her the confidante of my trouble ! LAURA. I thought / was that? MRS. LINDON. You are another ! But you mustn't forget that I have gone to Becky in hys terics and begged her to make it up for me with Fred. LAURA. Were you perfectly frank with her? MRS. LINDON. Perfectly! I told her the truth, and more too ! I told her I loved Fred in spite of his faults Good Heavens ! if a woman had to find a faultless man to love ! I've asked her advice. [Rising nervously and going to the sofa. LAURA. You haven't taken it ! MRS. LINDON. That doesn't make any differ ence ! Who ever does ? [Sitting on the sofa.} She 6 THE TRUTH owed me her loyalty instead of flirting with Fred behind my back. [She opens the cigar box on the writing-table behind her and then bangs it shut. LAURA. Perhaps she's really trying to make peace between you in her own way! MRS. LINDON. Does it look like it? Actually telling me yesterday she wouldn't trust herself in his presence for fear she'd lose her control and tell him what she thought of him ! and all the time she had an appointment to meet him this afternoon in the Eden Musee, if you please ! LAURA. [With comic disgust.] Oh! Horrors! MRS. LINDON. Yes, in the chamber of them! If that isn't compromising! LAURA. Eve ! MRS. LINDON. And Tom Warder so nice! Everybody likes him! THE TRUTH ^ [Picks up stamp box and bangs it down. LAURA. Including Becky. That's the point. Becky loves her own husband. What does she want of yours? MRS. LINDON. She loved Tom Warder when she married him, but that was in 1903 ! Besides, Becky always liked having men fond of her whether she cared for them or not. LAURA. Nonsense ! MRS. LINDON. She's what the French call an " allumeuse " leads them on till they lose their heads, then she gets frightened and feels in sulted ! LAURA. But you claim she does care for Fred ! MRS. LINDON. My dear, a magnetic man like Fred has a way of winding himself around a woman and . keeping himself wound as long as he wishes ! even when she doesn't wish, look 8 THE TRUTH at me ! I'd give anything to throw him off for good, but I can't stop being in love with him ! LAURA. [Who has moved over to the chair beside the sofa, pats EVE'S hand.] Poor old Eve ! Well, when she comes, what are you going to do? MRS. LINDON. Give her one more chance to tell me the truth ! I'll ask her outright when she saw Fred last. LAURA. But if she keeps on with her "bluff" of not seeing him, you can't tell her she lies with out making a horrid scene, and what good would that do? MRS. LINDON. Exactly ! She'd never acknowl edge she was lying but just go on ! I may appeal to Tom Warder himself! [Rises and goes to mantel, looking at the fty-leaves 0} two books on a table which she passes. LAURA. No! THE TRUTH g MRS. LINDON. Why not? We've been friends since babies. LAURA. You wouldn't! MRS. LINDON. I don't accuse Becky of any thing dreadful ! Besides, it will be for his good too, as well as mine, he knows Fred, and I'll wager anything he'll be as eager as I to stop any excess of friendship with him. [Goes up to the window.} Sh ! here she is ! and a man with her ! LAURA. [Rises, excited, and joins her.] Who? MRS. LINDON. [Going to the other window.] I can't see. LAURA. [Joining her at the second window.} Suppose it should be MRS. LINDON. Exactly ! If she hears I'm here, she'll never let him in. [She starts with a new idea and goes to the door Right.] The window in io THE TRUTH that hall juts out; perhaps we can see the front door from there. Come quickly! [Tries to pull LAURA out Right. LAURA. I don't approve of what you're doing at all. MRS. LINDON. Oh, come ! [They go out and close the door behind them. [The SERVANT shows in BECKY and LINDON, Lejt. BECKY is a pretty, charming, volatile young woman, sprightly, vivacious, lovable. She is dressed ultra smartly, and in the best 0} taste. LINDON is dapper, rather good- looking, though not particularly strong in character, and full of a certain personal charm. He also wears very fashionable clothes. He is a man whose chief aim in life is to amuse himself. SERVANT. Mrs. Lindon and Miss Fraser were THE TRUTH .II waiting to see you, madam; they must have gone. BECKY. [With a humorous raising 0} the eye brows and a look to LINDON.] Oh ! I'm so sorry ! [The SERVANT goes out. LINDON. Gee ! what a narrow escape. LAURA. [Off stage Right, pleading loudly.] Eve ! Eve ! ! Come ! ! ! MRS. LINDON. [Off stage Right, loudly.] I will not. I will run my own affairs my own way. BECKY. [Who has heard this, with an amused, mischievous expression.] They are there ! Do you suppose they saw you? [They lower their voices slightly. LINDON. Well, Eve can see through most things, but not through the walls ! Good-by. [He starts to hurry out, but BECKY stops him. BECKY. You must come back ! That's what I 13 THE TRUTH brought you home with me today for to talk about Eve. This estrangement has gone on long enough. I've come to the conclusion you're as much to blame as she is, or more. LINDON. I like that from you! BECKY. I mean it, and if she wants you back, you've got to go. LINDON. Well, let me get a cocktail first. BECKY. I'm serious. LINDON. So'll I be if Eve comes in and catches me. [Going. BECKY. [Going with him.} I'll let you out but I expect you here again in half an hour. Do you understand? [They go out Lejt. Off stage.] You're to come back at six. LINDON. [Off stage, at a distance.] All right. [EvE comes in excitedly jrom the Right. THE TRUTH 13 MRS. LINDON. I think it is Fred ! Watch from the window ! I'll stay here in case Becky comes in. [She comes to the writing-table.} I'd like to scratch her eyes out ! [LAURA comes in and goes to right of the sofa. LAURA. It was Fred. MRS. LINDON. [Gives a tigerish, half-controlled, hushed cry of rage.} The wretched little beast I [BECKY comes in with a start of surprise. She beams. BECKY. My dears ! What a pleasant surprise ! Why didn't Jenks tell me ? Where in the world did you drop from? Laura, darling! [She kisses LAURA, who is very unresponsive, having pressed MRS. LINDON'S hand as she passed her. MRS. LINDON. We heard you come in, we thought with some one, and as I'm rather upset, 14 THE TRUTH we went in there till you should be alone. If you are busy, don't let us interrupt. [BECKY shows that she is relieved when she hears they don't know FRED was there. BECKY. O dear, no, I'm not busy. I came home alone, you must have heard me talking with the servant. I've been playing bridge since luncheon. [BECKY and LAURA sit on the sofa. MRS. LINDON. Where? BECKY. Clara Ford's, our usual four. [LAURA and EVE exchange glances. MRS. LINDON. Why! I saw her lunching at Sherry's. BECKY. [Quickly, after only a second's hesi tation.} Yes, she couldn't play to-day, but it was her turn at her house, so we went all the same and er er Belle Prescott took her place. THE TRUTH 15 [Another surreptitious look passes between LAURA and MRS. LINDON. LAURA. Did you win? BECKY. Yes, a hundred and fifty! LAURA. A hundred and fifty? Good! MRS. LINDON. [Who has seated herself in the chair beside the so/a.] Becky, Laura knows all my troubles; she's the bosom I weep them out on. BECKY. Oh, come, I've gathered a few dewey diamonds off my laces! Well, how is Fred be having? Has he shown any sign yet? MRS. LINDON. Not one. I thought perhaps you'd have some news. BECKY. [Looking away.] I? How should I have? [Leans over and smooths her skirt. MRS. LINDON exchanges a look with LAURA. MRS. LINDON. You said two days ago for me 16 THE TRUTH to keep silent and wait, and Fred would make an advance. BECKY. And so he will, I'm sure ! unless you do what you threatened. [To LAURA.] I tell Eve if she starts a suit for separation or does anything of that sort publicly, Fred may be furious and accept the situation, no matter how much of a bluff it might be on Eve's part. LAURA. Very likely. MRS. LINDON. I thought perhaps you meant to see Fred and have a talk with him? BECKY. No! [MRS. LINDON and LAURA ex change glances, as BECKY, rising, rings bell Right.] What good would that do? To have the recon ciliation mean anything it must be of his own volition. He must come for you, Eve, because he misses you, because he wants you back. [MRS. LINDON joins LAURA on the sofa and talks in a THE TRUTH 17 loud and excited whisper to her as to BECKY'S very evident prevarication. SERVANT enters Right; BECKY speaks to him aside, amusedly watching them, and then comes above table. As she comes back.} Well? MRS. LINDON. I believe there's another woman in it! BECKY. [Laughing.] I knew she was jealous! [To MRS. LINDON.] That's just the sort of thing that has made quarrels all along between you and Fred. [She comes to her. MRS. LINDON. Well, if you knew all I've had to forgive Fred, and all I have forgiven, you'd realize I had good reason always for my share of the quarrels. BECKY. Listen to me, Eve. You're a luckier woman than you know! c i8 THE TRUTH MRS. LINDON. [Startled.] How do you mean? [LAURA puts her hand on EVE'S shoulder to calm her. BECKY. Because, instead of having the for giveness always on his side, you have the blessed privilege of doing the forgiveness yourself. [MRS. LINDON gives a falsetto snort.} You may smile if you like . MRS. LINDON. [Interrupting.] Oh, no, thank you. I don't feel at all like smiling! BECKY. Well, honestly, I envy you. [Takes EVE'S hands in hers. MRS. LINDON looks once at LAURA questioningly, and back again quickly to BECKY.] You know I love Tom with my whole heart. and it's a big heart for a little woman and yet I keep him forgiving me forgiving me something or other all the time. I'd be afraid his forgiveness would wear out, only it's in his THE TRUTH 19 soul instead of his body, and if our bodies wear out, our souls don't do they ? Already at the very beginning of our life together I owe him more dear forgiveness than I can ever repay, and believe me, Eve, such a debt would be unbear able for a woman unless she adored her husband. MRS. LINDON. You've too much sentiment I'm practical. BECKY. [Sitting down in the chair at Centre.] Does being practical give you one-half the happi ness my "sentiment" gives me? MRS. LINDON. Nonsense ! My sympathies are with the one who has the forgiving to do. BECKY. You mean, like all selfish people, you sympathize with yourself, so you'll never be happy, even if you get Fred back. MRS. LINDON. [Startled, angry.] If? What do you mean by that? 20 THE TRUTH [Looks at BECKY, then at LAURA, sharply, then back at BECKY. BECKY. [Smiling.] Say when instead! when you get Fred back. Trust me, teach yourself to be grateful that it is you who have to forgive, and not the other way round. MRS. LINDON. [Rises, jacing her, almost tri umphantly, jully persuaded that BECKY is in the wrong.] I knew when I came here you'd make excuses for him. BECKY. [Smiling.] You've misunderstood me. I'm trying to make them for you. MRS. LINDON. Thank you. You need excuses more than I do. LAURA. [Rises, alarmed.] Eve! MRS. LINDON. I am perfectly well aware that I made a very serious mistake in coming to you of all women ! THE TRUTH 21 BECKY. [Rises.] In that case I think it best to consider the matter closed between us. MRS. LINDON. You can think what you please, but I have no such intention ! LAUKA. Eve ! [She sits again on the sofa. Really Becky has shown herself reasonable and kind, and you've said enough to-day. We'd better go. BECKY. I should have to ask you to excuse me in any case, as I have an engagement in a few minutes. [MRS. LINDON looks meaningly at LAURA. MRS. LINDON. [To BECKY.] I intend to have the whole thing out now ! [WARDER enters left. [WARDER is a strong and sensible, unsuspicious man, no nerves and no "temperament," noth- 22 THE TRUTH ing subtle about him; he is straightforward and lovable. WARDER. Oh, excuse me! BECKY. No, come in, Tom; it's Laura and Mrs. Lindon. [LAURA and MRS. LINDON say "How do you do," as WARDER comes into the room. He greets them in turn. BECKY writes in pencil on a sheet of paper on the desk. TOM. I wanted to ask Becky if she wished to go to a theatre to-night. BECKY. Yes, I should like to. [She indicates to TOM that she wants EVE and LAURA to go, and having finished writing, comes to him.] I'm sorry, but you really must excuse me. [Slipping into WARDER'S hand the note she had secretly written.] Mrs. Lindon and Laura are going. What are you going to do now? THE TRUTH 23 [MRS. LINDON looks again meaningly at LAURA. WARDER. I thought I'd go round to the club till dinner. BECKY. [Relieved.] That's right. I shall be engaged till half-past six, er Mrs. Clayton is coming to see me about the Golf Club at Ros- lyn and lots of things. You needn't hurry back. [She gives him an affectionate little squeeze 0} the arm and goes out Right. He looks down at the paper slyly and reads it. MRS. LINDON. [Rises and goes to TOM.] Tom, if you've nothing in particular on at the club, would you give me half an hour? LAURA. [Rises and goes to EVE.] Eve, you haven't the time yourself; you must come with me. WARDER. [Suppressing a smile as he finishes 24 THE TRUTH reading the note, he is a little embarrassed.] Well really Eve I don't know, I'll tell you how it is MRS. LINDON. Oh, I don't mean here ! I know Becky wrote you a note telling you not to let me stay, didn't she? WARDER. [Laughing.] She did you see, she has an engagement. [Reading from the paper, good-naturedly.] "Get rid of Eve, I want the room." MRS. LINDON. At six o'clock. [Glances meaningly at LAURA. WARDER. [Casually.] Is it? MRS. LINDON. To see Fred in! LAURA. Eve ! be sensible ! WARDER. No, it's for Mrs. Clayton about Roslyn. MRS. LINDON. Then why must she be rid of THE TRUTH 25 me? Georgia Clayton and I are the best of friends, and I have as much to do with Roslyn as Becky. WARDER. [Still pleasantly.] I suppose Beck has a good reason, if she cared to tell us. MRS. LINDON. I know Becky has an appoint ment here, at six, with Fred. LAURA. You don't know it, Eve ! MRS. LINDON. I do. WARDER. [Still pleasantly.] In any case that is Becky's and Fred's business, isn't it? MRS. LINDON. You know Fred! WARDER. Yes ! MRS. LINDON. Well? WARDER. You don't want my opinion of Fred, at this late day ! I also know Becky ! MRS. LINDON. Becky and Fred meet every single day. 26 THE TRUTH LAURA. [Interpolates.] She thinks so. WARDER. What are you talking about? MRS. LINDON. What I know/ And if you'll wait here with me a few minutes now, in spite of what Becky said, you'll s,ee Fred and not Mrs. Clayton arrive. WARDER. If your husband is really coming, it was probably to spare you that Becky spoke of Mrs. Clayton, and I shouldn't think of embarrass ing her by waiting. MRS. LINDON. [Disagreeably, irritatingly.] Oh, you don't mind, then? WARDER. Almost any man, my dear Eve, would mind your husband meeting his wife every day! I only think you've been misinformed, or only half informed, that's all. MRS. LINDON. You are aware that Fred and I have been separated for two months? THE TRUTH 27 WARDER. Yes, Becky told me. LAURA. [Looking at her watch.} It's almost six now. Come, Eve. WARDER. [Going toward the door, Left.] Yes, I'm afraid I must ask you [Rings electric bell on wall beside the door. MRS. LINDON. [Going to him.] Tom, for the sake of our boy and girl friendship, walk home with me, and let me speak plainly. LAURA. [On the other side 0} WARDER.] Mr. Warder, please don't go. MRS. LINDON. [To LAURA, angry.] What do you mean? [To WARDER, pleadingly.] I've no other man in the world to go to; I need advice. Won't you give me yours? WARDER. [Looks at her a moment, hesitates, then says.] My advice? Of course, if you wish that. [The SERVANT appears in the doorway in 28 THE TRUTH answer to the bell. To SERVANT.] My hat and coat and say to Mrs. Warder I'm walking home with Mrs. Lindon. [He goes out Left. SERVANT. Yes, sir. [Follows him out. [LAURA looks significantly at MRS. LINDON. LAURA. If you keep on, there soon won't be a soul left in New York whose advice you haven't asked and not taken! MRS. LINDON. Well, it's my own trouble; I can do what I like with it. What are you going to do now? [She sits in the armchair at the Left. LAURA. [Going to her.] Don't tell him all you think you know about Becky. MRS. LINDON. Think! LAURA. It will be a very great mistake. THE TRUTH 29 MRS. LINDON. Laura, I'll tell you the truth; I've had Fred watched by private detectives for over a month, and I have a list of dates and places of their meetings to more than prove what I say. LAURA. How dreadful of you ! MRS. LINDON. Oh, wait till you get a hus band, and then you'll sympathize more with a woman who is trying to keep one ! LAURA. But these places where they meet? MRS. LINDON. Are respectable so far as I know. But daily meetings my dear, daily / LAURA. And you'll tell Mr. Warder? MRS. LINDON. I don't know yet how much I shall tell. What are you going to do now? LAURA. Wait till to-morrow ! Give yourself time to recover, to consider. MRS. LINDON. [Simply repeats.] What are you going to do now? 30 THE TRUTH LAURA. [Deliberately crosses to the chair at Centre and sits.] Stay and see Becky. MRS. LINDON. [Rises, delighted.] Oh, do! Stay till Fred comes, and catch her! LAURA. No, no ! I've finished with this now. I don't sympathize with what you're going to do. WARDER. [With hat and coat, in the doorway Left.} Ready? MRS. LINDON. Yes. WARDER. Good-by, Laura. LAURA. Good-by. [MRS. LINDON goes out Left with WARDER. After the outside door is heard to close BECKY comes into the room hurriedly. She stops suddenly on seeing LAURA, turns and tries to steal out. Just as she gets to the door, LAURA catches her.] Becky! [BECKY turns and their eyes meet. BECKY laughs, realizing she is caught. THE TRUTH 31 BECKY. Oh, you didn't go with them? LAURA. No ! BECKY. Had enough of Eve to-day? LAURA. Not enough of you. BECKY. [Sings instead of speaks.] "Thank you !" [She puts her arm around LAURA, and they sit on the sofa. LAURA. Becky, why won 't you be frank with Eve ? BECKY. I was. LAURA. No, you didn't tell the truth about see ing Fred. BECKY. Oh, that! LAURA. Yes, that! BECKY. I may have seen him once or twice, that's all. LAURA. Exactly what Eve says you don't tell the truth ! 32 THE TRUTH BECKY. It's false! I never told a malicious lie in my life. I never told a fib that hurt any one but myself! LAURA. Tell Eve the truth. Make her have confidence in you. She says if you cross the ferry to Jersey City, you say you've been abroad. BECKY. [Laughing.] Well, so I have/ Laura! I'm doing my best to make Eve happy. I can't do any more than my best, and if I do it at all, I must do it my own way ! LAURA. You've seen Fred to-day. BECKY. No, I haven't. LAURA. Becky! He came home with you just now! BECKY. What makes you think so? LAURA. I saw his back on the steps with you. BECKY. Oh, I see spying on me ? Well, you made a mistake in the back. THE TRUTH 33 LAURA. I know it was Fred Lindon. BECKY. And I know it wasn't. LAURA. You're not seeing him every day? BECKY. Certainly not! But what affair is it of yours, if I do ? LAURA. We're all friends, and you're making Eve wildly jealous. BECKY. That is entirely her own fault, not mine. [The SERVANT enters Left with a bill on a small silver tray. SERVANT. Pardon me, madam, a man with a box and a bill to collect. BECKY. [Taking bill.] A bandbox? [She opens bill. SERVANT. Yes, madam. BECKY. [To LAURA.] Oh, my dear, such a duck of a hat ! And only sixty-five dollars. 1 D 34 THE TRUTH saw it on my way here and couldn't resist buying Are hats a passion with you? LAURA. [Uninterested.] Yes, rather. BECKY. I told them to send it C.O.D., but I didn't suppose it would come till to-morrow and I haven't a cent! LAURA. I thought you said you won a hundred and fifty at bridge? BECKY. No, no, my dear, you misunderstood me, I lost. [To SERVANT.] Tell the man if he can't leave the box, to take it back and call later; say Mrs. Warder is out. SERVANT. Yes, madam. [Goes out with the bill, Left. LAURA. You said you won at bridge ! BECKY. Oh, you tedious person ! You hang on to anything like a terrier, don't you ! I said I won because I didn't want Eve to think I'd lost; THE TRUTH 35 I never can bear to own up I've lost anything before Eve. [Laughs, pulls LAURA by the arm.] Good-by ! LAURA. I won't go yet. BECKY. [Urging her.] You must. I have an engagement. LAURA. With Fred Lindon ! BECKY. It is not. [SERVANT enters and an- nounces "MR. LINDON." LINDON follows in. He is surprised to see LAURA, but instantly covers his surprise. Going to LINDON, quickly.] Oh, what a surprise ! LINDON. Surprise? Am I early? BECKY. [Indicating LAURA.] Sh! Yes, sur prise. [LINDON sees LAURA and makes an amused grimace.] But I can only give you a very few minutes. I have an engagement, haven't I, Laura ? 36 THE TRUTH {As they shake hands. LINDON. Oh hello, Laura ! LAURA. [Very dryly.] How d'you do, Fred? LINDON. How's Eve? LAURA. [Embarrassed.] Very well at least not very yes, she is of course very well ! She's just left here. [She adds this pointedly. LINDON. Oh ! sorry I missed her ! Give her my regards when you see her, and say I'm glad she's well. [He goes to the piano, sits on the bench, and plays. LAURA. [Rises indignant.] I shall do nothing of the kind. [She starts to leave the room. LINDON runs what he is playing into "Good-by, little girl, Good by." THE TRUTH 37 BECKY. [Offering her hand.} Good-by. LAURA. [Pretends not to see BECKY'S hand.] Good-by. [She goes out Left. BECKY. [Going to the piano.} They both saw you come back with me ! LINDON. [Still playing, improvising. Laugh ing.] No! Did they? BECKY. [Laughing.] Yes, but it's no laughing matter ! Eve is jealous. LINDON. [Stops playing.] What right has she? Did she expect me to sit alone in the drawing- room for two months straining my ears to hear her ring the front door bell? [He continues playing. BECKY. They know we've been meeting every day, at least they think so. Have we? LINDON. [Still playing.] No ! 38 THE TRUTH BECKY. Yes, we have/ Haven't we? LINDON. [Stops playing.] Well, yes, if you want the truth. BECKY. [Goes to sofa and sits.] There's no use telling a story about it. I've nothing to be ashamed of, I did it with the best of motives. LINDON. [Goes to BECKY.] Oh, don't spoil it all, Becky, with motives! [He leans over the arm of the sofa to talk to her. BECKY [Laughs.] You know Eve mustn't be jealous of me! LINDON. [Earnestly.] Now you're not going to let her break up our little BECKY. [Interrupting.] Fred, how much do you like me? LINDON. [Smiling.] I daren't tell youl BECKY. No, I mean really ! LINDON. So do II THE TRUTH 39 BECKY. I believe you are fond of me. LINEON. I am ! BECKY. And I like you to be. LINDON. [Placing his hand on hers on the so/a's arm.] Because? BECKY. [Slowly drawing her hand from his.] I like men to like me, even though it really means nothing. LINDON. Nothing? [Rather chagrined. BECKY. [Amused.] I like it for myself, and besides I think it's a compliment to Tom ! LINDON. [Mockingly.] Oh ! Oh ! I say ! Becky ! [He moves to the chair Right beside BECKY and drawing it nearer sits facing her. BECKY. But with you there was a special reason. LINDON. [Is encouraged. Draws a little nearer to her.] Yes? .p THE TRUTH BECKY. Of course you have perfectly under stood why I've seen so much of you. LINDON. You've been my friend. BECKY. I've sympathized with you. LINDON. You've been the only real glimpse of happiness I've had for months in my life. BECKY. Don't be rhetorical ! no man sounds sincere, when he talks pictures. I'll tell you why I wanted you to come back this afternoon. LINDON. [Taking her two hands.] To make me happy! BECKY. [Pulling her hands away, and patting his half seriously.] Yes, [He leans over toward her.] by making you realize it's time you went to Eve and asked her to come back. LINDON. [Sinking back in his chair.] Non sense; Eve's made a row and frightened you. BECKY. How frightened me? I always meant THE TRUTH 41 when I'd got you where I wanted you, to in fluence you to make it up with Eve. She adores you! LINDON. She has an odd way of showing it. [He rises 'and leans against the mantel beside the sofa. BECKY. You don't want every woman to show her love in the same way. LINDON. I don't want any other woman to show me she loves me in Eve's way. BECKY. Come now, you're unfair to Eve ! I'm going to sympathize with her a little. Granted that she is jealous, granted that she doesn't always control her temper ! what woman worth while does ! LINDON. [Laughing.] But she ought, to trust me as you do. BECKY. [Laughing.] Oh, I'm not your wife. 42 THE TRUTH I wouldn't trust you for a minute if I were married to you! LINDON. How about Tom ? BECKY. Of course I trust Tom. LINDON. And I trust Eve. [Laughing. BECKY. Oh ! but it's not the same thing. You trust Eve because you don't care enough. I trust Tom because well, in one little word, he is per fect and I adore him ! LINDON. Sounds boring! BECKY. Eve's proved she loves you with a big love! She's proved it by forgiveness. That's the proof of a love it's not easy to get and even harder to deserve ! You've got it [He moves toward her.] we won't go into the deserving part ! But if only half that she says and one quarter of what every one else says of you is true, you ought THE TRUTH 43 to go on your knees to her in gratitude if she is will ing to take you back. LINDON. [Sits on the arm of sofa, half laugh ing.] She will ! She's left before. BECKY. You love her, Fred? LINDON. [Casually.] No, I love you! BECKY. Nonsense! I mean really! Promise me you'll go to Eve to-morrow and ask her to come back. LINDON. [Slides down on to sofa.] Not yet give me another month ! BECKY. You'll lose her ! LINDON. No, there are certain things you can't lose try as hard as you like ! BECKY. That isn't funny. LINDON. She's been urging you to do this. BECKY. Nothing of the sort ! She's too proud. And she mustn't dream I've had anything to do 44 THE TRUTH with your going to her. No woman really wants to accept her happiness like a pauper at the Lady Bountiful hands of another woman. She might think she was grateful to me, but she wouldn't be ! With a disposition like Eve's you'd have another quarrel inside a fortnight. No ! Eve must think you've come to her spontaneously because you can't live without her. [He whistles. She rises.] You can whistle, but you'll never get another woman half so good to you as Eve! Make her think you want her back. Make yourself think you want her back, and you don't know how happy you'll be first in making her happy, and second in finding you are yourself. [He takes hold of her hand; she draws it away quickly and sits in the armchair on the opposite side 0} the room. LINDON. What are you doing away over there? THE 7 "RUTH 45 BECKY. Oh, I thought it was getting a little crowded on the sofa. LINDON. And must I give up my visits with you? BECKY. Of course. LINDON. Oh, well, if that's the price, I don't want happiness, it costs too much ! BECKY. You won't need sympathy any more. You can write me a little note and say: "Becky, I thought I loved you, but it was only a heart being caught on the rebound. Thank you for being sensible and pitching the heart back ! Thank you for seeing my real happiness was in making Eve happy." LINDON. You know that doesn't sound like me! BECKY. Not like your foolisli old you, but like your sensible new you, who has found out you can have a woman friend without getting 46 THE TRUTH sued for damages, which has been your usual experience, I believe! LINDON. Becky! Don't rob the graves! BECKY. Well, will you go to Eve and beg her to come back? LINDON. [Rises.] No! BECKY. Fred ! The price of my friendship is your peace with Eve! LINDON. [Going to BECKY.] But if I consent, I may come to see you? BECKY. Yes. LINDON. Eve, my darling wife, forgive me! Come to my arms and stay there for five minutes consider it done! Where, to-mor row? BECKY. The Metropolitan? LINDON. No, let me come here to-morrow, and what time? THE TRUTH 47 BECKY. [Rises.] Four but to say Good-byl [She means it.] The last visit ! LINDON. Oh ! well, we won't cross that bridge till we come to it ! and I'll make you a bet if you ever do send me away for good, do you know what will happen? BECKY. [Amused.] No, what? LINDON. In a day or two you'd send for me to come again after all! BECKY. [Laughing.] Why? LINDON. Because you like me better than you think you do ! BECKY. [Going to the writing-table.] Oh, really ! ! LINDON. [Following her.] Yes, really! and you know though you may not acknowledge it to yourself, still you know just how strong my feeling is for you. 48 THE TRUTH' BECKY. [Turning toward him.] But I do ac knowledge it, and I am grateful and pleased to have you care for me. [Site pulls the chair beside the table in front of her. LINDON. [Pushing chair away.] "Care for you!" BECKY. [Pulling chair back.] Yes! and I want to show my appreciation by making you happy. LINDON. Eve's jealousy has frightened you, but you'll forget it to-morrow! BECKY. [Really not understanding.] How do you mean? [She looks at him questioningly, innocently. He looks back knowingly with a half smile, not believing her. A pause. WARDER cornea THE TRUTH 49 in Left. He looks from one to the other, then speaks pleasantly. WARDER. Oh ! How are you, Lindon ? LINDON. Good evening, Warder. [Both men stand; an awkward pause. BECKY. [Sitting in the armchair Right.} Sit down, Tom. [He does so on the chair by the table. LINDON sits on the sofa. A moment's pause.} LINDON. Do you come up town generally as late as this? WARDER. Oh, no, I've been up some time. [Second awkward pause. BECKY. Did you get the theatre tickets? WARDER. No, I forgot; I didn't go to the club. I'll telephone from here. [Very casually. Has Mrs. Clayton gone? BECKY. Who? 50 THE TRUTH WARDER. Mrs. Clayton. You said [BECKY interrupting. BECKY. Mrs. Cl ? Oh! Yes! She's gone. [Awkward pause. LINDON. Have you been to the club ? * WARDER. [Very casually.] No, I walked back with your wife to her mother's. [Awkward pause. BECKY and LINDON ex change glances. > . v LINDON. [Hal/ humorously.] I hear Eve is looking very well. [Pause. WARDER. By the way, will you have a whiskey and soda, a cocktail or something? BECKY. Or tea? LINDON. Tea? poison to mel No, thanks, I must be getting on. [All rise; then, after a moment of embarrassment, WARDER speaks. THE TRUTH 51 WARDER. Yes? LINDON. I've an early, melancholy, bachelor's dinner at seven. BECKY. It's your own fault! Think how well Eve looks in a dinner dress, and what a delight ful hostess she always is. LINDON. Yes, Eve's all right in a crowd ! {Shaking hands. To WARDER.] Forgive my domestic affairs intruding. Mrs. Warder has been kind enough to advise me a little ! Good-by ! [Going. WARDER. I'm sure her advice is good. You'd better take it! LINDON. Perhaps ! but in homeopathic doses ! [To BECKY.] Good-by ! [To WARDER.] Bye, Warder. [Laughing, he goes out Left. WARDER and 52 THE TRUTH BECKY, alone, look at each other, BECKY questioningly, WARDER halj puzzled. BECKY. Well! Has Eve been weeping on your bosom, too? WARDER. No, I think she scratched it, if she did anything ! BECKY. [Half amused, half worried.} How do you mean? [The SERVANT enters with a letter which he gives to BECKY.] When did this come? SERVANT. A little while ago, but madam gave orders not to be interrupted. [He goes out. WARDER gives BECKY a quick, sharp look, which, however, she doesn't notice. BECKY. From father! He can't want more money already! WARDER. You sent him how much two days ago? THE TRUTH 53 BECKY. [Goes above the writing-table as she opens the letter.] You sent him, you generous darling, three hundred dollars. I had given him his allowance the beginning of the month. WARDER. And gone already ! Of course, he's been at the races this week ! No more. Becky, is it true you've been seeing Lindon every day lately? BECKY. [While she reads her letter.] No ! yes ! [Looks up at him.] I mean no, certainly not! WARDER. [Smiling.] Which is it? or do I take my choice? BECKY. [With a little laugh.] I've seen some thing of him. I'm sorry for him. Father's in more trouble. WARDER. That's an old story, and this is something new. Eve is jealous of you. 54 THE TRUTH BECKY. [Looks up at him.} Are you, of Fred Lindon ? WARDER. No! BECKY. [Goes quickly to him and kisses him and pushes him down on to the sofa.] Bless you ! You're right, and that's my answer to Eve ! Father does want more money ! WARDER. We send no more till next month, not one penny. Come here! [He makes her sit on the arm 0} the sofa beside him. She puts her arm about his neck and hugs him. WARDER continues.} You haven't seen Lindon almost daily for the past month, have you? BECKY. No. WARDER. You haven't met him by appoint ment at the Metropolitan, Eden Muse"e, or any such places? BECKY. Eve's jealousy gives her the most THE TRUTH 55 ridiculous ideas! When I have been with Mr. Lindon, it has been principally to talk about Eve, and entirely with the desire to try and reconcile them. WARDER. Grant that ! But it's not true about all these appointments? BECKY. No! WARDER. [With his arm about her waist.} I believe you love me better than all the world ? BECKY. Than all the world, and every world, and all the planets put together, Mars, Saturn, and Venus. Yes. I love you even more than Venus ! [Laughing and giving him another caress. WARDER. I have every confidence in you and your motives. But I have none in Lindon's so I want to-day's visit to be his last, my dear. 56 THE TRUTH BECKY. [Rising, a little uncomfortable.] All right. WARDER. Own up, now, hasn't he tried to make love to you? BECKY, [Leaning on the back of the chair, facing him.] No ! WARDER. Not a bit? BECKY. [Smiling.] Well maybe just a tiny bit but not in earnest WARDER. [Rising, angrily.] I was sure of it! the damn puppy ! Becky, I've heard him swear there's no such thing as a decent woman if a man goes about it in the right way! BECKY. Oh, you men are always hard on another man whom women like. WARDER. I know what I'm talking about this time, and you don't. BECKY. [With dignity.] I judge by his be- THE TRUTH 57 havior to me. He may have led me to believe he likes me very much, - he ought to like me, I've been very nice to him, and I suppose it flattered me [Smiling.] it always does flatter me when men like me, and I think one feeling I have is pride that you have a wife whom other men admire ! If Mr. Lindon has made er re spectful love to me, that's a compliment to you. [WARDER laughs, sincerely amused.] But he has not insulted me. WARDER. [Smiling.] That's your fault. You are the kiid of woman he doesn't believe exists, and he can't make up his mind just what tactics to adopt. BECKY. He knows perfectly, unless he's deaf and blind, that my seeing him a few times only has been solely to reconcile him with Eve. 58 THE TRUTH WARDER. That sort of man is deaf and blind except to his own rotten mental suggestions. He is incapable of believing in your philanthropic motive, so let it go, dear. BECKY. [Places the letter on the writing-table and sits behind it.} Eve has frightened you! WARDER. [Walks away.} Not a bit; I laughed at her fears that you were fascinated by her pre cious worm ! But I do consider that unwittingly you have been playing a dangerous and for give me, darling [Going to her.] a very fool ish game. Already some one believes you've been seeing Lindon every day. You haven't! But that doesn't make any difference! Every one will believe you have seen him twice a day in another month if you continue seeing him at all. No woman can have the "friendship" of a man like Lindon for long without justly or unjustly THE TRUTH 59 paying the highest price for it. [He places his hand tenderly on her shoulder.} You wouldn't know what the price was till the bill came in, and then no matter how well you knew and those who love you knew you had not danced, all the same the world would make you pay the piper ! BECKY. I do your sex greater justice than you ! I don't believe there's any man, no matter what he has been, whom some sincere woman can't waken to some good that is in him ! WARDER. [Smiling.] That's all right, but you please let Eve wake up Lindon ! [He moves away.] Had you made any arrangements to ring a little friendly alarm on him to-morrow? BECKY. No ! And that, of course, was Eve's suggestion ! WARDER. Well, never mind so long as it's understood his visits here are at an end. You 60 THE TRUTH don't expect him to-morrow, and should he come, you won't see him, eh? BECKY. Exactly! [Smiling.] When I told him to-day his visits were over, what do you think he said? WARDER. I couldn't guess. BECKY. He said I'd change my mind and send for him ! WARDER. And if you did, do you know what he would do? BECKY. No, what ? WARDER. Consider it a signal of capitulation, and ten to one take you in his arms and kiss you! BECKY. [Rises.] He wouldn't dare! WARDER. I'm not sure, but at any rate I am serious about one thing in this discussion. BECKY. [Goes to him and places her hands THE TRUTH 61 lovingly on his arms.] Our first " domestic row." WARDER. \Turns her about and holds her in his arms, she leans against him.] And last ! BECKY. Amen ! WARDER. [Very seriously.] And I echo the sentiment, I know, of every sane husband in New York Lindon's attentions to a man's wife are an insult, and as your husband I won't have them. BECKY. [Leaving his arms, pushes him play fully into a chair and sits near him in the corner of the so/a.] Well, give me my woman's last word. I still think you are unfair to him but I love you all the same ! ! WARDER. You'd better ! BECKY. I'm so afraid you'll get not tired, but well too used to me ! 62 THE TRUTH WARDER. Not till I find you twice the same! Now, what about your father ? BECKY. He only wants fifty dollars, and says he must have it; let's send it. WARDER. No, that's the way it's been always. Our "no" has always ended "yes," so of course he hasn't believed in it. This time it must stay "no." BECKY. [Plaintively.] You won't send it? WARDER. No, and you mustn't. BECKY. Oh, I haven't got a cent. But he says he's in real trouble and he must have it. WARDER. It's always the same thing! And we must put a stop to his inveterate, indiscriminate gambling. If we don't teach him the lesson he needs soon, before we know it he will be in real trouble that ten thousand times fifty dollars mightn't get him out of. THE TRUTH 63 BECKY. But he promises not to WARDER. [Interrupting, .] My dear! He has given his word over and over again, and broken it twice as many times ! If it isn't a race course, it's a bucket shop or some cheap back door roulette table, and it's got to stop ! Stop now ! BECKY. But, Tom WARDER. [Interrupting.] Now, Becky! You know how hard it is for me to refuse you. BECKY. It's only WARDER. [Interrupting.] You must trust my judgment, and your father must learn, and a small matter of fifty dollars is a good chance to begin; it can't be so very serious! so that's ended. BECKY. [Half humorously, half discouragedly.] Yes, I guess it's ended ! WARDER. Now, will you try to realize that I only want to do what's best and right? 64 THE TRUTH BECKY. [Kisses him.] Yes, but I can't help feeling sorry for father. [Smiling. [The SERVANT enters Left with a bill and a bandbox. SERVANT. Beg pardon, madam, but the man has come back. BECKY. [Takes the bill.} Oh, my hat! Very well, I'll ring when I'm ready. Leave the box on the chair. SERVANT. [Puts bandbox on the chair at Left.} Very good, madam. [He goes out. BECKY. [Smiling, embarrassed.} I'm nearly as bad as father! WARDER. Lose at Bridge to-day? BECKY. No, I didn't play to-day, but I couldn't resist a hat, my dear, the most adorable hat' THE TRUTH 65 [WARDER laughs "Oh, Becky"] No, honestly! Much more beautiful than the one I bought day before yesterday ! I'm ashamed, but I did order it to come home, and I haven't a penny. WARDER. [Teasing her.] Send it back! BECKY. Oh, you wouldn't be so heartless! and what would they think at the shop? WARDER. [Getting out his pocketbook.] How much is it? BECKY. [Hesitates a moment.] Fifty dollars ! WARDER. [With a slight quizzing look.] Just what your father wants. BECKY. Yes! Give the money to father and I'll send back the bonnet. WARDER. No, my darling. You know it isn't the money with your father, it's the principle of the thing. I've not got the money, I must write a check. 66 THE TRUTH [He looks for the check book. She quickly gels a check book from table and hides it behind her back. BECKY. Your check book's upstairs. [She rings the bell on the desk. WARDER. I thought perhaps yours was here? BECKY. No ; mine's used up, as usual! WARDER. All right. [He goes out Right, as the SERVANT enters. BECKY. [Opening the bandbox.] Send the man here, Jenks. SERVANT. Yes, madam. [He goes out, Left. BECKY. [Takes out the hat and looks at it ad miringly.] What a duck ! [Heaves a great sigh and puts it back and starts to re-tie the strings, as the MAN enters.] I want you to take this back to Mme. Flora, and say Mrs. Warder is extremely THE TRUTH 67 sorry, but Mr. Warder has taken a violent dislike to the hat, so she cannot have it. She will be in later to choose another. MAN. Yes, ma'am. [He goes out with the bandbox, Left. BECKY sits down and starts to write a letter hurriedly. WARDER comes in with check. BECKY hides the letter she is writing. WARDER. [Coming to the table.} Here's the check, all but the name of the payee. Where's the bill? BECKY. Make it out to me, and I'll endorse it. WARDER. Why ? BECKY. O dear ! [Half worried, half smiling.} I told you a sort of fib ! The hat was only thirty- five dollars, but I wanted the extra fifteen for some thing else.. Please don't be angry WARDER. [Laughing.} I'm not angry, though 68 THE TRUTH you know I dislike even little fibs. Why didn't you tell me if you're hard up? I'll give you this and make out another for the bonnet shop. BECKY. No, you needn't do that; the man's gone now for the change, I told him. WARDER. [Finishes the check and gives it to her.] Becky! you're not going to send this to your father? I forbid that. BECKY. No, no, darling! [Takes the check.] And now you get dressed. I'll be up in a minute. You know it always takes you twice as long as it does me when you wear a white tie ! It's a long play and begins early. WARDER. I'll bet you I'll be dressed before you start! [He hurries out, Right. BECKY. [Rings the telephone on Jhe desk.] Hello! Hello, 6304~72d. [Writes on her inter- THE TRUTH 69 rupted letter with one hand and listens with the receiver in the other. After a moment.] Hello ! 6304- 7 2CT 3 1968 I 8-19I APR 3 4 -1961 ?' 10M-M-50 2355 470 REMINBTON RAND INC. 20 AA 000 037416