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 2<i ? Is Mr. Lindon yes, ask him to come to
the 'phone and speak to 2 7 59-3 8th. [Listens as
she writes.] Hello! Is that you? Yes yes
Oh, [Laughs.] don't be silly! I called you to
say I am very sorry, but our engagement for to
morrow is off! O double f! No, for good!
For Good! [She adds very quickly.] Good-by!
[Hangs up the receiver and writes. In a moment
the telephone bell rings furiously; at first she ignores
it; then she makes a grimace at it; then she takes
up the receiver.] Hello ! No, Central, I wasn't
cut off. No, I don't want the number back,
thank you, I hung up the receiver. I can't help
that ! You needn't re-connect us say the line
is busy! [Hangs up the receiver.] Mercy! when
you don't want them ! ! [Rings the electric bell on
70 THE TRUTH
the desk, endorses the check, puts it in the letter,
and seals the envelope. The SERVANT enters as
she addresses letter.] I want you to take this
at once and put a special delivery stamp on it.
I want it to reach my father in Baltimore to
night.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
BECKY. Have you any idea whether it would
be delivered there to-night or to-morrow morning?
SERVANT. One or the other, madam.
BECKY. [Smiling.] That I know! Make
haste.
[The SERVANT goes out Left, as WARDER, all
dressed, save that his tie hangs loose, rushes
in, Right. She rises quickly.
WARDER. Who's ready first?
BECKY. [Laughing.] Oh, you've raced! But
while you're tying your tie I'll
THE TRUTH 71
WARDER. [Interrupts.] No, I came down
purposely to get you to tie it for me !
[He stands ready.
BECKY. [Ties it during the following speeches.]
You forgive me for telling you that little fib ?
WARDER. Yes, if it's to be your last one.
BECKY. My very last.
WARDER. No more of those wicked little white
lies, even, that you know you do amuse yourself
with, and distress me ?
BECKY. No, no! Really! I've opened the
cage door and let all the little white mice fibs out
for good !
WARDER. And you do love me?
BECKY. Do you want to know how much I love
you?
WARDER. Yes, how much?
72 THE TRUTH
BECKY. How deep is the ocean in its deepest
spot?
WARDER. As deep as your love for me.
BECKY. Oh, that isn't fair! You're stealing
my thunder ! There ! [The tie is finished, and
she pushes him playjully into the chair by the
writing-table.} One good turn deserves another.
[With her arms about his neck she slides on to
his knee, like a child.] I've let Perkins go out, and
you must hook me up the back.
[And both laugh gayly as he embraces her and
THE CURTAIN FALLS
ACT II
At the Warders' early Saturday afternoon, just after
lunch.
ACT II
The same scene as Act I. BECKY and WARDER
are sitting on the sofa, both drinking coffee after
lunch. WARDER puts his coffee cup on the table
as the curtain rises.
BECKY. Aren't you going to smoke, darling?
[Putting her coffee on the table behind her.
WARDER. Yes.
[Getting out cigar.
BECKY. Give it to me. [She takes it, and cuts
the tip with a gold jewelled cutter which she wears
on a chain about her neck.} For six years you've
not smoked a cigar in my presence that I haven't
clipped, have you?
75
76 THE TRUTH
WARDER. No. And how about anybody else's
cigars ? That hasn't cut off any tips for Lin-
don, I hope !
BECKY. No indeed ! He only smokes cigar
ettes.
WARDER. [Amused.] Is that the only reason?
BECKY. Oh, you darling! I believe you are a
little jealous of Lindon and I adore you for it.
[Hugging and kissing him.
WARDER. Well, you go on adoring, but I'm not
a bit jealous of Lindon.
[Rises, and lights his cigar with a match from the
table behind them.
BECKY. You're not going back to the office?
It's Saturday.
WARDER. No I think I'll have a game of
racquets with Billy Weld.
BECKY. Do! You love it so. I've regretted
THE TRUTH 77
their invitation to dine with them next week,
Friday. I said we're going out of town.
WARDER. But we're not. We've people din
ing here, haven't we?
BECKY. Yes, but I think going out of town
sounds so much more interesting. Besides, then
they can't possibly be offended that they aren't
asked here. Grace '11 be consumed with curiosity,
too, as to where we're going!
[Amused.
WARDER. But if they see us Friday?
BECKY. They'll think we haven't gone yet.
WARDER. But if Billy meets me down town
Saturday morning?
BECKY. He'll think you took an early train
back.
WARDER. The truth's so simple, so much
easier why not tell it ?
78 THE TRUTH
BECKY. Don't worry, it'll be all right. I'm
sorry I told you if you're going to worry!
[He goes to kiss her; she stops him.
WARDER. [Sitting beside her.] What's up?
BECKY. I've decided I kiss you too often. I'm
a shop-keeper with only one line of goods no
variety, and I'm cheapening my wares. [WAR
DER laughs.] I don't want you to feel you're
getting a left-over stock of stale, shopworn kisses !
I want you to feel the supply doesn't equal the
demand.
[She kisses him. The SERVANT enters and they
move apart.
SERVANT. Mrs. Lindon to see Mr. Warder.
BECKY. [To WARDER.] Eve! [To SERVANT.]
Ask her to come in here and have a cup of coffee
and a cigarette.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
[Goes out.
THE TRUTH 7$
BECKY. [Beaming.] Come to tell us of the
reconciliation !
WARDER. Why she didn't let him go and be
thankful! I don't see what she can love in a
little outsider like Lindon !
BECKY. Thank Heaven all women don't love
the same kind of a man ! [Steals a caress.] Think
what an awful fight there'd be !
SERVANT. [Coming back.] Mrs. Lindon sends
this message she wishes to see Mr. Warder.
[BECKY and WARDER look at each other, surprised
and amused. BECKY makes a grimace.
WARDER. Very well, show Mrs. Lindon in.
SERVANT. Yes, sir.
[Goes out.
WARDER. More trouble!
BECKY. They've quarrelled again already! It
must have been his fault.
8o THE TRUTH
[SERVANT shows in MRS. LINDON and goes out.
MRS. LINDON. [To WARDER, not noticing
BECKY.] How do you do?
WARDER. How do you do, Eve?
BECKY. How do' you do, Eve ! Sit down.
MRS. LINDON. I wish to see Tom for a mo
ment, Becky.
BECKY. What for?
MRS. LINDON. I wish to see him alone.
BECKY. Why?
MRS. LINDON. That, Becky, is my affair
and his perhaps !
BECKY. Oh, really! I suppose I ought to be
come very jealous now, and do dreadful things.
[Smiles.] But don't have me for a moment on
your mind, Tom.
[Kisses her finger, puts it to Tom's lips, he kisses
it, and she goes out Right.
THE TRUTH 81
WARDER. What is it, Eve?- You know I have
no earthly secrets from Becky.
MRS. LINDON. It's about her secrets from youl
WARDER. Nonsense ! *
[Half laughs,
MRS. LINDON. [Silting in the chair by the
table near Centre.] I only hinted at things the
other day and only hinted at one-half the
truth.
WARDER. [Sitting on the sofa.] Excuse me,
Eve, but you've got hold of the wrong half. I
asked Becky outright that is our way always.
She denied practically all you said.
MRS. LINDON. You can't make me believe
you've lived as long as you have with Becky
Roland and not found out she lies.
WARDER. [Rises quickly in anger.} It's because
you're a woman you dare say that to me, but you
G
82 THE TRUTH
know I don't have to listen to you, so don't push
our old friendship's claim too far.
MRS. LINDON. I said Becky and Fred met often
on the sly.
WARDER. [Sitting again.] Which isn't true!
MRS. LINDON. No! They meet every day!
WARDER. Eve, I think your trouble has gone
to your brain.
MRS. LINDON. [Still quietly, but with the quiet
of the crater when the volcano is alive beneath.] I
can prove to you that Becky has seen Fred every
day and more than that ! When we had our talk
two days ago, they had agreed together that he
was to go through a form of reconciliation with me
for appearance' sake, and their meetings were to
continue. She had an appointment with him for
yesterday.
THE TRUTH 83
WARDER. That I know isn't true, for she swore
to me the opposite.
MRS. LINDON. Yes, you frightened her off and
she broke the engagement by telephone, which
made Fred perfectly furious !
WARDER. [Rising, goes to mantel and knocks
his cigar ashes into the grate; absolutely uncon
vinced, he continues with a cynical smile.] And
how did you obtain this decidedly intimate infor
mation ?
MRS. LINDON. [In an outburst, the volcano
becoming a little active.] From him! I knew
they hadn't met for two days
WARDER. [Interrupting.] How?
[He looks up curiously.
MRS. LINDON. [Rises and turns away, a little
ashamed.] I've had Fred watched for weeks!
84 THE TRUTH
WARDER. [Astonished, rises.] You mean
you've
[He hesitates.
MRS. LINDON. Yes ! [Coming to the desk, and speak
ing across it to him.] I took their not meeting for a
sign that after all Becky had given him up, and I
had the impulse to go to him to go back home.
He turned on me like a wolf said I'd meddled
with his affairs once too often that I'd frightened
Becky into breaking off with him, that he had
been on the point of making up with me for the
reason I've told you, but now it was done for !
I'd raised your suspicions, I'd given the whole
thing away to everybody, and I could congratulate
myself on having broken off his and my relations
for good forever ! Oh, how could he insult
me so when it was only his love I was asking
for?
THE TRUTH 85
[She sinks down in the chair above the table, and
buries her face in her hands and sobs.
WARDER. [Forgets himself and exclaims.} But
how can you how can you still care for him after
everything you've gone through ? It's beyond my
understanding !
[He throws his cigar angrily into the fireplace.
MRS. LINDON. The history of the world is full
of women who love like me, but no men I don't
know why; but I suppose that's why you can't
understand it. Why couldn't he realize it is for
happiness not appearances I've been fighting?
And now it's over, for I know when he means
what he says and he told me, like a low brute,
I could go to where you can imagine for
all he cares, or for all he'll ever live with me
again.
[Her voice fills up again.
86 THE TRUTH
WARDER. I should think if you went to the
address he proposed, it would insure at least an
eventual meeting!
MRS. LINDON. [Who has not heard and does
not understand.] What?
WARDER. I beg your pardon ! I made a
foolish joke ! Well ? [With a hearty long breath
of relief.] Now do you feel better?
MRS. LINDON. [Feebly, not understanding.]
Better?
WARDER. Yes, now you've got it all "off your
chest"? To-morrow you'll be all right and
ready to forgive again. Shall I call Becky?
[Going toward the bell beside the mantel.
MRS. LINDON. [Rises.] You're going to ac
cuse her before me?
WARDER. [Stops and turns.] Accuse her?
[Laughs.] No I don't believe a word you've
THE TRUTH 87
told me. I'd take Becky's unspoken denial
against Fred's sworn statement any day.
MRS. LINDON. [Going to him.] Then here's
yesterday's report from the agency ! and Thurs
day's, and Thursday's includes the report of the
telephone central who connected Becky with
our house when she broke off the appointment
with Fred, that telephone girl has told us many
interesting things!
WARDER. Stop ! Stop this ! I won't listen
to you at any rate not behind Becky's back.
I'm not a jealous, suspicious woman with good
reason to believe the worst. I'm a straightfor
ward, decent man, I hope, and I know I've every
reason to believe absolutely in my wife, God
bless her! [He moves away and then turns upon
her.} Why have you come and told me this, any
way?
88 THE TRUTH
MRS. LINDON. [Staggered.] Why why?
WARDER. [Angry.] Yes, why? to me of all
people! I was the last person you should have
told, as a matter of breeding, as a matter of tact,
as a matter of the friendship you talk about.
MRS. LINDON. But that was just it !
WARDER. Do you dream what it would mean
to me to shake even by a miserable tremor my
confidence in my wife? But you haven't!
MRS. LINDON. I thought, and I still think, it's
to your advantage to know.
WARDER. \With a complete change of voice,
from anger to the tone one adopts with a silly child.]
My dear Eve, while I don't for a minute excuse
him, still I do now understand, perhaps, how even
Fred Lindon must have found your ideas of devo
tion at times over the endurance line.
MRS. LINDON. You don't understand, I
THE TRUTH 89
thought if you knew everything, together we could
separate them could arrange something.
WARDER. Eve! believe me, there's nobody
to separate in this case; there's nothing, so far as
I and mine are concerned, to arrange.
[He goes again to the bell by the mantel.
MRS. LINDON. Who are you going to ring for?
WARDER. You know.
MRS. LINDON. [Stopping him quickly.] Not be
fore me ! I don't want to see her humiliated. I
don't want a public revenge or triumph; that's
not the feeling I have.
WARDER. What in the world do you mean?
[He rings.] Becky will deny the
MRS. LINDON. [Interrupting.] Very likely!
But these proofs are incombatible, and if that's
her attitude, I shall go straight from your door to
the divorce court.
90 THE TRUTH
[She places the envelope 0} reports on the table
with a blow.
WARDER. \Goes to her.} You're mad ! If your
proofs are all right, then Becky'll not deny, she'll
explain them. You forget you can only see
everything red now, but I'm sane and quiet and
sure [Smiling.}, and I see things in their true
colors. You must be guided by me in this. [He
takes her hand almost cruelly and speaks strongly,
with the manner and voice of the man who is and
means to remain master.] Do you understand
that? [She draws her hand away as if in pain.}
I beg your pardon. I am afraid you are one of
those dangerous "well-meaning" persons who do
more harm than the people who are purposely
malicious. You are to take no step without my
sanction.
[BECKY comes in with a certain air of bravado.
THE TRUTH 91
BECKY. Excuse me, I heard the bell and I was
waiting am I right ?
WARDER. [Goes to her.] Come right in, dear.
BECKY. Well! has Eve thrown a bomb, or a
trump card? Am I to be taken into the secret
or conspiracy or what?
WARDER. [After a second's pause, in which he
thinks how to begin.] Eve has convinced herself,
and would convince me, of some very [He thinks
for the word.} wrong worse than wrong things,
but I prefer to be convinced of the contrary by
you. And I prefer to come to you with my con
fidence, my conviction complete. And together
we'll try to keep Eve from harming others as well
as herself and Lindon the latter seems unavoid
able. [EvE pushes her papers on the desk point
edly nearer to him. He ignores them.] Eve says
you've not been seeing Lindon often, but every day.
92 THE TRUTH
BECKY. Do you want me to deny it?
WARDER. [Indulgently.] I want you to tell
the truth.
BECKY. Of course the accusation and the idea
behind it are absurd. [WARDER turns and looks
at MRS. LINDON, who meets his glance and then
looks down at the evidence on the table, pushing
the papers a little farther toward him. He does
not follow her glance. BECKY half laughs.} It's
like a trial, isn't it? By what right does Eve
MRS. LINDON. [Interrupting.] The supreme
right of any married woman who cares for her
husband. Shall I be more explicit?
BECKY. No, you needn't trouble! What next,
Tom?
WARDER. Eve claims you had an engagement
with Fred
[Hesitates, trying to remember the day.
THE TRUTH 93
MRS. LINDON. [Quickly.] Day before yester
day.
WARDER. Which you broke off over the tele
phone.
BECKY. How does she know that? Does she
tap our wire? Merciful Heavens, Eve, you've
become so morbid over your trouble your mind's
diseased on the subject of Fred and everybody
else apparently.
MRS. LINDON. Ha!
WARDER. But is this true, Becky?
BECKY. [To gain time.] Is what true?
WARDER. About this appointment with Fred
which you broke over the
BECKY. [Interrupting.] Of course not!
WARDER. [Who begins to doubt her.] If it were,
you could easily explain it, I'm sure.
[Hoping to suggest this course to her.
94 THE TRUTH
BECKY. [Her head lost.] Of course but
there's nothing to explain ! The whole thing's
false! What do you take me for, Eve? If you
think I'm a home destroyer, you've made a mis
take in the bird ! And what do you mean by
coming into my precious home and trying to make
trouble for me?
' [Silling on the sofa, frightened and almost in
tears.
WARDER. Wait a minute, Becky, it's partly
my fault.
BECKY. It is not! I know whose fault it is,
and I must say that, at last, I don't blame Fred
Lindon !
MRS. LINDON. Oh!
BECKY. There! I'm sorry I said that. When
I'm excited like this I speak the truth straight
out, no matter what happens!
THE TRUTH 95
WARDER. Well really it was I who insisted
on your joining us, against Eve's will. [To MRS.
LINDON.] Your way was best. It was my man's
point of view [To BECKY.] and you are right,
under the circumstances, no doubt, to answer as
you do.
BECKY. My dear Tom, there's no other way
to answer.
WARDER. [Looks at her, then takes up the
envelope containing the detective reports and holds
them tightly in his hand. He comes down to MRS.
LINDON.] If you will leave us alone, I will go over
the whole matter with Becky, by ourselves
will be much better.
MRS. LINDON. I need hardly tell you those
papers are most valuable to me.
BECKY. {Looking up, her curiosity aroused.}
What papers?
96 THE TRUTH
[Nobody answers her. She tries to see.
MRS. LINDON. Will you promise me not to
let them out of your hands till you put them back
into mine?
WARDER. I will.
MRS. LINDON. [/Is she moves to go, slops.]
You will find the entries which are of particular
interest to you marked on the margin with a
red cross !
WARDER. [Satirically.] Thank you!
[BECKY rises and rings for the SERVANT. MRS.
LINDON goes out.
BECKY. [Coming to meet WARDER.] I think
I'm a pretty good-natured woman to let Eve
WARDER. [Stands before BECKY with his hands
on her shoulders, making her look straight into his
eyes.} Now be careful, dearest. You've married
a man who doesn't understand a suspicious nature
THE TRUTH 97
who has every confidence in you and the deep
est a confidence that couldn't be easily dis
turbed; but once it was shaken, every unborn
suspicion of all the past years would spring to
life fullgrown and strong at their birth, and God
knows if my confidence could ever come back.
It never has in any of the smaller trials of it I've
made in my life. So you'll be careful, won't you,
dearest? I mean even in little things. My faith
in you is what gives all the best light to my life,
but it's a live wire neither you nor I can afford
to play with it.
[Goes to the writing table and takes the papers
out of EVE'S envelop?.
BECKY. Tom, you frighten me ! Eve has made
you jealous again. [Goes to him and puts both
arms about his neck.] Now, my darling, I give
you my word of honor I love only you and never
H
9 8 THE TRUTH
have loved Fred Lindon and never could ! Say
you believe me!
WARDER. Haven't I always believed you?
BECKY. Ye s.
WARDER. But if I find your word of honor is
broken in one thing, how can I ever trust it in
another ?
BECKY. Of course you can't, but you needn't
worry, because it won't be broken.
WARDER. Then, now we're alone, tell me the
truth, which you didn't tell me when you said
you'd not seen Lindon often.
BECKY. [Turns away.] It was the truth. I
haven't so very often.
WARDER. Not every day?
BECKY. [Sits in the chair by the writing-table.]
How could I?
/
WARDER. Nor telephoned him Thursday, break-
THE TRUTH 99
ing off an engagement after you told me abso
lutely you'd parted with him for good and
had no appointment?
BECKY. Of course not! The idea! [But she
shows she is a little worried.] Eve Lindon never
could tell the truth!
WARDER. The telephone girl must have lied
too or else the statement was made out of whole
cloth.
[Throwing the envelope on the desk.
BECKY. What statement?
WARDER. [Sitting on sofa.} From these detec
tives.
[He begins to look through the papers.
BECKY. Detectives! [Stunned.] What detec
tives ?
[Picks up envelope and looks at it, puts it back
on desk.
loo THE TRUTH
WARDER. Eve's, who have shadowed her hus
band for the past two months.
BECKY. [Thoroughly alarmed.] You don't
mean
WARDER. [Interrupts, not hearing what BECKY
says ; his thoughts on the papers which he is read
ing, he speaks very quietly.] These certainly do
make out a case of daily meetings for you two.
BECKY. It's not true!
WARDER. Though not so very many here.
[Turning over a jresh paper.
BECKY. [Rises, gets above desk.] All! All the
meetings there have been, practically. This is
simply awful ! Eve is capable of making the most
terrific scandal for nothing. Don't let her, Tom,
will you? Tear those things up!
WARDER. [Smiling indulgently, not taking her
seriously.] Becky!
THE TRUTH 101
BECKY. [Leaning over the table, stretches out
her hand toward him.] Well, let me! Let me
take them from you without your noticing till
it's too late !
WARDER. [Seriously.] You're not serious?
BECKY. I am !
WARDER. You heard me give Eve my word ?
BECKY. To a mad woman like that it doesn't
count.
WARDER. I wonder just how much your word
does count with you, Becky!
BECKY. [With great and injured dignity.]
It counts everything!
WARDER. They seem to have hit on some very
out-of-the-way places for your rendezvous. [He
smiles.] Where is Huber's museum?
BECKY. Why, it's down on Fourteenth [She
interrupts herself quickly.] I don't know where it is .'
102 THE TRUTH
[She moves away to colled herself.
WARDER. [Still smiling.] And why the Wash
ington Heights Inn in February? Or the Eden
Muse"e ever?
BECKY. Of course some one else has been
mistaken for me.
WARDER. [Looks up.] Ah ! yes, that's a very
possible idea.
BECKY. [Goes to the sofa and sits beside him.]
Tom, don't read any more of the horrid things!
Listen to me, don't let Eve go on. She'll ruin
everything if she does. He'll never forgive her,
never take her back.
WARDER. [Reading and smiling.] I didn't know
you skated 1
BECKY. I always loved skating. I only gave
it up because it bored you. But I didn't skate
then!
THE TRUTH 103
WARDER. When ?
BECKY. I I don't oh, whenever that beast
says!
WARDER. St. Nicholas Rink, Friday, February
eighteenth. [He has noticed the slip she made,
but hides the fact; he speaks as he goes on read
ing.] Eve and her husband have had a big
row, and he swears he'll never see her again,
not even in the other place, that she's come be
tween you and him and that he'll never forgive.
[He finishes seriously, his bantering manner gone.
BECKY. Oh, how untrue ! I don't believe he
said any such thing. Eve's jealous mind has
distorted something else. The reason for our
friendship [He rises with a half-angry move
ment, goes above the table looking for the envelope.}
such as it is was to bring Eve and him together.
WARDER. From your point of view.
104 THE TRUTH
BECKY. No, believe me, he isn't as bad as you
think.
WARDER. [Showing the papers.] And what
about these? They agree with me.
BECKY. If you believe those papers about him,
then you must believe them about me.
WARDER. [Coming to her.] Heaven forbid,
Becky ! They would prove you a liar and a
terrible one which you're not, a.-e you?
BECKY. How can you ask?
WARDER. If these were true if I thought
you had deceived me to such an extent I could
never trust you again so long as I lived, Becky.
BECKY. Shall you speak to Mr. Lindon about
them?
WARDER. No, I wouldn't insult you by dis
cussing you with Lindon, unless I was convinced
every word and more here was true. I will see
THE TRUTH 105
Eve to-morrow and perhaps get hold of these
detectives myself.
BECKY. [Almost trembling with dread.] And
now go and have your game. You need it !
You're getting morbid. You'll be believing these
beastly things if you don't get some exercise.
WARDER. What time is it?
BECKY. [She looks at clock on the mantel, and
speaks with her face still away from him.] Three.
When will you be back?
[She conceals her anxiety to hear his answer.
WARDER. Oh, six, I suppose.
' BECKY. [Facing him with a certain relief.]
Not till six you're sure ?
WARDER. Yes, you know your father's coming
and there's no necessity of my seeing him.
BECKY. Oh! I forgot all about father's tele
gram! If it's money, I'm to be firm?
106 THE TRUTH
WARDER. Absolutely.
BECKY. [Taking hold of the envelope which
he has in his left hand away from her.] What are
you going to do with those?
WARDER. You heard me tell Eve they shouldn't
go out of my hands except into hers.
[He gently but firmly removes her hand from
the envelope.
BECKY. And you meant it?
WARDER. Don't you mean a promise you give
like that?
BECKY. Yes, of course. . .,;
WARDER. [Taking out his keys.] I'm going to
put them away in my room. I want to have a
thorough, careful look through them later. Of
course I can't let it rest here. The detectives
must learn their mistake at once.
THE TRUTH 107
BECKY. Yes, of course. But you are going
to the Welds' now for your game?
WARDER. Yes, good-by.
[Presses her hand. Gives her a tender but
questioning look, but does not kiss her, and
then goes out.
BECKY. He's begun to distrust me already.
Dear God in Heaven, if I ever get out of this,
I'll never tell another lie so long as I live! [She
turns to the window. Smiles to WARDER outside
and throws him a kiss, but afterward her face at
once assumes its frightened look. Coming from the
window, she sinks upon the piano stool.] He's got
to save me ! Now he can prove that he is worthy
a decent woman's friendship. [She goes to the
telephone and calls.] Hello ! Hello ! [She suddenly
realizes.] But I can't use the telephone ! Central
has told things already ! [She hangs up the receiver.
io8 THE TRUTH
The telephone bell rings.] I must write him. [The
bell rings again. She lakes up the receiver and
speaks angrily.} Hello? . . . No, I didn't ring.
You've made a mistake. [Hangs up the receiver.]
You telltale toad you! [She writes.] "If this
note reaches you in time, please come over"
I ought to be able to get rid of father in half an
hour [She looks up at the clock.] "at half-past
three." [Seals note and addresses it.] "Impor
tant."
[Which she underlines.
SERVANT. [Entering Left, announces.] Mr. Ro
land.
[ROLAND is an elderly, dried-up little man with
an air of the dandy jockey still clinging to
him underneath his gray hairs and dyed mous
tache. A vivid carnation is in his buttonhole
and a somewhat rusty springiness in his gait.
THE TRUTH 109
ROLAND. [Coming in jauntily.] Hello, Beck !
BECKY. [With fictitious spirit.] Father!
[He starts to kiss her, forgetting the ever present
cigarette in his mouth; then he stops to re
move it, and does kiss her.
ROLAND. How are you?
BECKY. I'm awfully glad to see you, but you
can't stay long. Excuse me just a moment.
Jenks, I want you to ring for a messenger and
give him -r- [Stops.] no, when he comes, send him
to me.
[She has started to give JENKS the note, but
changes her mind. JENKS bows and turns to
leave.
ROLAND. I say, Becky, might I have a glass
of brandy ? I took coffee after lunch on the train
and it's poisoned me. Must have been canned
coffee !
1 10 THE TRUTH
BECKY. Very well, Jenks.
[The SERVANT goes out Left.
ROLAND. [Lolling on the soja.] What the devil
did you mean by sending me fifty dollars instead
of five hundred?
BECKY. [Surprised.] I read it fifty! I never
dreamed you'd ask for five hundred more!
[Going toward him.
ROLAND. I wrote five hundred and I must have
it!
BECKY. My dear father, it's impossible. I
tried as it was to get a little more from Tom, but
he said "no," to send you the fifty dollars, with
his love, but not one penny more, and to make
you understand and, father, he means it
that for the future you must keep within your
allowance.
THE TRUTH ill
[The SERVANT enters with the brandy on a
salver, and pours out a liqueur glass full.
ROLAND. But you'll help me?
BECKY. [Sitting on the opposite end of the so/a.]
No, he forbids it, and in the future I'm going to
do what Tom wishes, and never deceive him even
in a little thing again. [To the SERVANT who
hands the glass 0} brandy to ROLAND.] The mes
senger boy hasn't come yet?
SERVANT. No, madam.
BECKY. If he doesn't come in five minutes,
ring again.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
[Starting to go, ROLAND stops him.
ROLAND. Not so fast!
[He points to the glass which he has emptied and
the SERVANT pours out another glass. ROLAND
takes it and puts it on the table behind him.
M2 THE TRUTH
The SERVANT busies himself ivith gathering
up the after-dinner coffee cups and trying to
overhear all that he can.
BECKY. How is Mrs. Crespigny?
ROLAND. That woman will be the death or the
marriage of me!
BECKY. Don't be absurd, father! She's given
you the most comfortable home you've had for
years. In that letter she wrote me she said she'd
been a real mother to you.
ROLAND. The mother is a blind, a false lead
to hide her hand ! her trumps are marriage.
BECKY. Nonsense ! Mrs. Crespigny must real
ize the difference in your positions.
ROLAND. You haven't lived with her social
souvenirs as I have for four years ! [The SERVANT
starts to take up tfte glass wkjfh ROLAND has put
aside, but the latter stops him. The SERVANT has
THE TRUTH 113
delayed over his work as long as he dares in his
desire to listen, and now goes out Left.] Becky, are
you and Tom hungering for a mother-in-law?
BECKY. I don't know what you mean?
ROLAND. It's a question of five hundred dollars
for me or a new Mrs. Roland !
BECKY. [Astounded.] You don't mean you owe
Mrs. Crespigny that money?
ROLAND. Well, I've not paid my board bill as
regularly as I might have wished.
BECKY. [Rises, indignant.] I'm ashamed of
you!
ROLAND. I'm ashamed of myself, but shame
won't pay bills; if it would, there'd have been
many an unpaid debt washed off the slate in this
world.
[The SERVANT returns with a messenger boy.
SERVANT. The messenger, madam.
i
114 THE TRUTH
[BECKY goes to the boy. During BECKY'S talk
with the messenger, ROLAND fills his pocket
with cigars from the box on the table.
BECKY. I want you to take this note to its ad
dress, but only leave it in case the gentleman is in.
Do you understand?
MESSENGER. Yes, ma'am.
BECKY. And come back and tell me.
MESSENGER. Yes, ma'am.
[He goes out with the SERVANT, who has waited
for him.
ROLAND. I confess, my child, I have flirted a
little with the dame in question.
BECKY. Father!
ROLAND. I have, in a way, led her on !
BECKY. And you always told me my mother's
memory was the one precious thing left, that
you meant to keep always untouched by your life !
THE TRUTH 115
ROLAND. I don't deny, Becky, I'd be ashamed
of it. I don't pretend Mrs. Crespigny would be
a solace or a substitute; she would, at the best
perhaps, be a resource, but what she threatens
to become unless I pay is a legal necessity!
BECKY. Could she do that?
ROLAND. I have been obliged at times by des
perate need of ready money to suggest to her cer
tain things as probabilities which were barely
remote possibilities ! And unfortunately un
fortunately once or twice in writing.
BECKY. She has compromising letters of yours ?
ROLAND. She has a large collection of illus
trated postal cards from every place I've been
since I've lodged with her, they are her chief ar
tistic dissipation and a double set of Baltimore
Duplicates, which I am afraid are the most foolish ;
as I am in the habit of making up with her in that
Il6 THE TRUTH
way after little tiffs when she takes the stand of
not being on speaking terms with me.
BECKY. Father! You've been a terrible idiot.
ROLAND. I have, my dear!
BECKY. Can't you get those cards back?
ROLAND. The rent due is "Mother's" price
for them. [Rising.] You will make Tom give it
to me, won't you? and I'll promise not to make
such a fool of myself again.
[Sitting on the arm 0} the sofa, drawing BECKY
toward him and putting both his arms about
her.
BECKY. Tom's idea now is that you deserve
all you get. He'll say you deserve Mrs. Cres-
pigny.
[Leaving him, she goes above the table.
ROLAND. Oh, come, she's not so bad as that!
BECKY. How old is she?
THE TRUTH 117
ROLAND. She has told me several ages. The
general average would make her about forty-seven
and a quarter.
BECKY. Pretty ?
ROLAND. A fine figure of a woman and plays
an A-one game of piquet.
BECKY. I see ! When did her husband die ?
ROLAND. He didn't die. He stole from the
bank in which he was employed and went to jail,
and she says for social reasons she was naturally
obliged to take advantage of the divorce law. I
have a suspicion myself he may have preferred jail !
BECKY. [Comes quickly to him.] Father, I
would never forgive you if you did such a thing!
It's degrading to me and to my mother's memory
for you to accept any sort of indulgence at that
woman's hands! When we get her paid, you
must leave her house.
n8 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. That I can't and won't do, because
I'm far too comfortable !
SERVANT. [Entering Left, announces.] Mrs.
Crespigny !
ROLAND. [Jumps up.] Mrs. who?
[MRS. CRESPIGNY comes in flamboyantly. She
is a woman past the age of uncertainly, dressed
gaudily, with an hour-glass figure; she has
innumerable bracelets and bangles, and an imita
tion jewelled chain flaunts a heavy pair of lor
gnettes, like a gargoyle hanging over a much-
curved bust. Enormous wax pearls in her
ears are in direct contrast to the dark begin
nings of her otherwise russet-gold hair.
Neither her shoes nor her stays fit, and both
are too tight. She is brightly rouged, and yet
the very failure of the facade reveals, somehow,
THE TRUTH 119
the honest interior of a human if forlornly
foolish female.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Excuse me for intruding
myself which I know is not social good form.
Mis' Warder, I take it?
[BECKY bows.
ROLAND. [Angrily.} What do you mean by
following me here?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [After severe look at him,
turns back to BECKY.] I want you to know the facts
as between your father and me, and just how the
matter is, and get your support that I done right !
[To ROLAND.] I know your daughter is a lady
if you ain't, and being a lady myself I have a cer
tain pride. [To BECKY.] I've had a good deal of
trouble persuading your father that though a lady
sometimes takes in a paying guest she still holds
her own in the social scale. I have friends of my
120 THE TRUTH
own in the New York Smart Set! My niece
married a Mr. Gubenhamers and lives in a per
fectly elegant house of her own on Lennox Avenue.
Do you know her? One thousand two hundred
and fifty-three ?
BECKY. No.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh, don't you? Well, of
course I know New York is big. Still, perhaps
you know her husband's cousin, who is also in a
way a relation ? You will know her by name
Mrs. Otto Gurtz, President of the West Side Ladies
Saturday Afternoon Social Gathering?
BECKY. No, I'm afraid I don't know her.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Well ! I guess you don't read
the Harlem society notes in the papers; if you did,
you'd know what she stands for socially.
BECKY. Suppose we keep to the reason of your
visit I understand my father owes you money
THE TRUTH 121
[MRS. CRESPIGNY turns sharply to ROLAND.] and
that you insist on being paid, which is natural
MRS. CRESPIGNY. A trumped-up story! [Go
ing to ROLAND.] I guess I done just about the
right thing to chase on here after you ! I'm sorry
to say it, Mis' Warder, 'specially as it ain't exactly
ladylike, but your father, with all his superfine
qualities, is a liar! Yes, ma'am, between us two
as ladies, he's an ornery liar !
[Sinks into a chair in tears. ROLAND lights a
cigarette angrily and goes up to the window.
BECKY. Mrs. Crespigny, wouldn't it be better
to behave more like a lady and talk less about one ?
Why break into the house of a woman you don't
know and make a scene over a matter of rent due
you
MRS. CRESPIGNY. It ain't the rent! It's all
a question of horses. When he left my house
122 THE TRUTH
this morning, he said he was leaving for good un
less I let him have
ROLAND. [Interrupting her.] Mrs. Crespigny!
You're hysterical! You're saying things you'll
regret
SERVANT. [Entering, Left.} The messenger has
come back, madam.
BECKY. Oh, I want to see that boy! Excuse
me a minute.
[She hurries out and the SERVANT follows her.
ROLAND. I knew you were in the train; that's
why I staid in the smoker. And it decided
me to keep my word never to go back to your
house !
[He sits determinedly in the arm-chair at Left.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. And you told her I was dun
ning you for the rent !
ROLAND. She has no more sympathy with my
THE TRUTH 123
betting than you have ! I wouldn't tell her the
money was to put on Wet Blanket, Monday!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Rises and goes to hint.] No,
you'd rather let her think I was a grasping harpy,
when you know, if the truth's told, you owe me at
least five times five hundred dollars with your
borrowings and your losses at cards !
ROLAND. [Smilingly.] You haven't won lately.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Do you know why?
ROLAND. Oh, of course ! You got out of the
wrong side of the bed or you dreamed of a black
horse !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Pathetically and a little
ashamed.] No. I've let you win a-purpose
because I was ashamed for you to owe me any
more money. I'm trying to keep a little pride in
you somehow, even if I have to cheat to do it.
[She almost breaks down again, and turning
124 THE TRUTH
away, takes a powder puff from a little gilt
box and powders her nose to cover up the traces
of tears.
ROLAND. Well, do you think it's pleasant for
me to owe you money? A kind friend like you!
[Going to the mantel and flicking his cigarette ash
in the fireplace.] One reason I want to take ad
vantage of this tip for Monday is to pay you if I
win.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Yes, and then go board
somewhere else? Is that your idea? Or to
stay here ?
ROLAND. Well, my daughter and her husband
want me. [Leaning on the mantel.] They say
their home is my home.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Going toward him, alarmed.]
But you won't stay, will you? I left word with
Josephine to have your favorite meenoo cooked
THE TRUTH 125
for a late supper in case you'd come back. We'll
have a game to-night. I'll play you a rubber for
the five hundred it's against my conscience to
give it to you outright for horse-racing.
ROLAND. Loan it to me !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Yes, of course ! I always
mean loan. Oh, the flat'd be just too dreadful
lonesome without you ! Say you'll come back !
Quick, before Mis' Warder comes in ! Won't
you?
ROLAND. [Coming toward her.] Well, if you
make it a personal favor to you in this way, I can't
exactly refuse! And that ends the most serious
quarrel we've had yet.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Embarrassedly.] If we was
man and wife, there wouldn't be any need of such
quarrels. The money'd be yours then to do as
you liked with.
126 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. Don't tempt me! You know you're
a great deal too kind to me as it is and I'm no
good to take as much advantage of you as I do.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh, pshaw! Say! I wish
you'd help me to get on the right side of your
daughter. You're too delicate to say anything,
but I always suspect it's her that stands between
us.
BECKY. [Coming back.] I'm very sorry, but you
must go at once. I have an important engage
ment here in a few minutes and must change my
dress. I will promise you, Mrs. Crespigny
ROLAND. [Interrupts.] I have made an arrange
ment with Mrs. Crespigny that is agreeable to her,
without Tom's and your assistance
BECKY. [Alarmed.] Father, not
ROLAND. [Shakes his head.] It seems I exag
gerated my indebtedness a little and Mrs. Cres-
THE TRUTH 127
pigny exaggerated her desire to be paid this month
and
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Yes, I was just mad clean
through and would have said anything!
BECKY. Well, I'm glad it's settled, but it seems
a pity you couldn't have accomplished it without
the railway journey, especially as I must ask you
to excuse me at once.
[She guides MRS. CRESPIGNY toward the door
Left, but MRS. CRESPIGNY, instead of going
out, makes a circle around an arm-chair and
settles herself in it. BECKY goes despairingly
to ROLAND.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh, I don't regret the trip
over, because I've been dying to meet you, Mis'
Warder, ever since I had the pleasure of knowing
your father in a taty taty sort of way. And we
can catch the four-fifteen.
128 THE TRUTH
BECKY. Good ! [Crossing to her, and holding
out her hand.] I'm sorry I can't ask you to stay.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh, I can come over nearly
any day ! I've got such a perfectly lovely servant
girl now. I give her every night out and she works
like a dog all day and you can trust her with
everything! Can't you, Mr. Roland?
ROLAND. You can trust her with me all right.
[MRS. CRESPIGNY laughs loudly.
BECKY. Father !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Ain't he killing! Do you
inherit his sense of humor? He can get anything
he wants out of me with just one of them witty-
cisms. [ROLAND winks aside to BECKY.] Of
course, I won't say that he ain't an expensive
boarder [BECKY sinks in the chair near Centre,
discouraged.} but I consider he cuts both ways
and at the finish the ends meets.
THE TRUTH 129
BECKY. I think I gather what you mean. I'm
afraid you'll lose your train !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. I mean it's hard for a lady
what's got it in her blood, to take boarders, be
cause usually the boarders is beneath what the lady's
been accustomed to and she don't feel at home
with 'em. Now with your father it's different,
because he's a Roland and I'm a Crespigny.
BECKY. Oh, is that your own name? I
thought
ROLAND. [Interrupting.} No, Mrs. Crespigny 's
maiden name was Ruggles.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Yes, mamma made what
we'd call a messyliance, married beneath her, you
know. But she never descended, nor allowed us
to neither, to papa's social level. Mamma was
a O'Roorke. You know, one of them early
130 THE TRUTH
high-toned families that came over from Am
sterdam in the Mayflower.
BECKY. I see !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Mamma often said to me,
says she, "Jennie"
BECKY. [With her patience exhausted, jumps up,
interrupting her.] I must say good-by now I've
no time to dress.
[She hurries out Right.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Rising.] Well, do you think
I made any sort of a hit with her ?
ROLAND. My dear friend, I've told you before,
you're not quite my daughter's style.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. But why not? She seems
real refined.
[ROLAND groans. WARDER comes in Left. He
does not see MRS. CRESPIGNY on his entrance.
WARDER. Hello, father! I didn't think I was
THE TRUTH 131
going to have this pleasure. I had an engage
ment to play racquets with Billy Weld, but he
broke down in his motor somewhere between
Tuxedo and here and I couldn't wait.
[MRS. CRESPIGNY comes a few steps and beckons
to ROLAND to introduce WARDER.
ROLAND. Mrs. Crespigny, Mr. Warder.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Bows.] Pleased to make
your acquaintance.
[She turns away with a rather grand manner.
WARDER looks from her to ROLAND and shakes
his head, then goes to the writing-table with
some letters he has brought in from the hall.
ROLAND. Excuse me one moment. [Beckons
to MRS. CRESPIGNY and whispers to her aside.}
Wait for me !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. In the hall?
ROLAND. Lord, no! At the station!
132 THE TRUTH
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh ! [Going, she turns at
door to bid WARDER good-by.] If you should ever
be coming over to Baltimore, Mr. Warder, why
just drop in!
[She goes out Left.
WARDER. Where's Becky?
ROLAND. [Going to him.] She's upstairs. I
just wanted to thank you for the money you sent
me day before yesterday.
WARDER. What money?
ROLAND. The check for fifty dollars Becky
mailed me.
WARDER. [Starts, but controls it immediately.]
Oh, a check for fifty dollars
ROLAND. The joke on me is that what I wanted
was five hundred !
[Digs TOM in ribs.
WARDER. [Looking off where BECKY went,
absorbed in his thoughts.] Oh, five hundred !
THE TRUTH 133
ROLAND. Yes, just five hundred. [He looks
at WARDER, and waits; hums a song and dances
a few steps.] Nothing doing, I suppose?
WARDER. No. Father, the fact is
ROLAND. Yes, I know, Becky told me. Ex
cuse me, I've got to catch a train. Good-by, my
boy.
WARDER. [With his thoughts elsewhere.]
Good-by !
[ROLAND goes out whistling "Waiting at the
Church." WARDER stands a moment think
ing, then takes out his key chain.
SERVANT. [Entering, shows in LINDON.] Mr.
Lindon to see Mrs. Warder, sir.
[WARDER looks up with a start, which he im
mediately controls, and disguises completely
his thoughts and emotions.
LINDON. How are you, Warder?
134 THE TRUTH
WARDER. [Speaks very casually and pleasantly,
with complete self-control] Good afternoon, Lin-
don. [Sees SERVANT about to go to BECKY, stops
him.] Jenks! [JENKS goes to him. WARDER
gives him a key from his chain.] Go to my room
and get me a large blue envelope from the upper
right-hand drawer of the desk.
JENKS. Yes, sir.
[He goes out Le/l.]
WARDER. Excuse me, Mrs. Warder is out.
She'll be sorry.
LINDON. [Surprised.] Out?
WARDER. Yes.
LINDON. But surely there must be some mis
take?
WARDER. No, I'm sorry. I assure you she's
out.
LINDON. Oh ! Then do you mind if I wait ?
THE TRUTH 135
WARDER. Is that scarcely worth while? I
must be off at once, and I imagine Mrs. Warder
is out for her usual bridge afternoon.
LINDON. I think, on the contrary, she must be
surely coming back, and if you don't mind, I'll
wait.
WARDER. [IVilh an apparently good natured
laugh.} I don't like to insist against your appar
ently superior knowledge
LINDON. [Also smiling.} No, no, it's only a note
I received a few moments ago at the club. Here
it is. [Takes it from his pocket.} That she must
see me this afternoon. . You know your wife is
kindly acting as intermediary between Eve and
myself. It is in regard to that. [He hands the
note to W T ARDER, who glances at it and returns it
without reading.} As it only came half an hour ago,
I feel sure Mrs. Warder must expect to return soon.
136 THE TRUTH
SERVANT. [Entering with an envelope, which
he gives to WARDER.] That is all I can find, sir.
WARDER. [Humorously.] That's all I want,
so it's all right. Jenks, am I wrong in under
standing that Mrs. Warder is out?
SERVANT. Yes, sir. Mrs. Warder is in, sir.
WARDER. Oh ! I beg your pardon, Lindon.
LINDON. That's all right.
WARDER. [To JENKS.] Jenks, say to Mrs.
Warder, Mr. Lindon is here. You needn't say
anything about me. I'm off.
SERVANT. Yes, sir.
[Goes out Right.
LINDON. I'm not driving you away, I hope.
WARDER. Oh, no, I have some important
papers to go over. Make yourself comfortable.
Good-by.
LINDON. Thanks, old man. Good-by.
THE TRUTH 137
[He sits on the sofa, as WARDER goes out Left.
LINDON. Well ! She did send for you, Freddy,
old son ! Now's your chance !
SERVANT. [Reentering.] Mrs. Warder will be .
down at once.
LINDON. Thank you. [The SERVANT goes out
Left. LINDON goes to the piano and sings a verse
of a song, "Everything comes to him who waits,"
etc. An idea comes to him. He weighs it, ac
cepts it, smiles, and stops playing.] I will! By
George, I will !
[He rises.
[BECKY hurries in from the Right and goes
quickly toward him, crying, "Fred!" in a tone
of distress and excitement. She leaves the
door open behind her. LINDON, before she
realizes what he is doing, has met her, taken
her in his arms, and kissed her. She forces
1 3 8 THE TRUTH
herself away from him, standing for a moment
speechless with rage and astonishment.
LINDON. I told you, didn't I, Becky?
[Tries to embrace her again.
BECKY. [Slowly and deliberately.] That's just
exactly what Tom said you'd do!
LINDON. What 1
BECKY. Ten to one, he said, if I sent for you
again, you'd kiss me.
LINDON. [In alarm and astonishment.] Yes,
but what
BECKY. But I wouldn't believe him! I said,
and I believed, he did you an injustice.
LINDON. So you talked me all over with him,
did you ! Then why did you send for me to-day ?
BECKY. Because I was a fool, if you want the
true treason !
LINDON. My dear Becky
THE TRUTH 139 .
BECKY. Oh, you'll hear more and worse than
that if you stay to listen ! I advise you to go !
You can't help me. I don't trust you. You
might even make matters worse. It may have
been all done purposely as it is.
LINDON. Oh !
BECKY. You see I'm ready to believe all I've
heard of you, now that you've shown your true
silly self to me in that one sickening moment, and
I'd rather not be saved at all than be saved by
you!
[She leans for a second against the corner of
the writing-table.
LINDON. How saved? From what?
BECKY. Never mind ! I only want to say one
more thing to you and then go, please. But I
want this to ring in your ears so long as you re
member me ! There is only one man in this world
140 THE TRUTH
I love, and that's Tom, and there's only one man
I despise and that's you! Lindon, Fred Lindon !
You know who I mean! I know now what our
friendship meant to you and I wish I could cut
out of my life every second of every hour I've
spent with you ! I've been a fool woman, and
you've been a cad, but thank God, there are
men in the world real men and one is my
husband. Now go, please ! Eve's a fool not to
jump at the chance of getting rid of you and I
shall tell her so.
[She turns away jrom him with a movement
of dismissal.
LINDON. [Going toward' her.] Do! For that,
at least, I shall thank you, as well as for our delight
ful friendship, which I am sorry to have end so
contrary to my expectations.
BECKY. [With her eyes down, speaks in a low,
THE TRUTH 141
shamed voice.} This room is too small for you
and me at this moment, which leaves ?
[He smiles, hesitates a moment, then sits in the
arm-chair at Left. BECKY gives a half-
smothered exclamation of rage and starts
to leave the room. LINDON rises quickly.
LINDON. No, no, I was only joking ! I'm sorry
you take the whole affair so seriously. Allow me.
[He bows and goes out Left.
BECKY. [Stands quietly thinking a moment,
then makes up her mind.] Eve herself is the one
to help me ! But I can't go to her till I'm sure
she'll listen and understand Laura ! [She sits
by the table and takes up the receiver of the telephone.]
Seven eight Plaza. Yes! It's a lady this time,
so I hope you won't have to listen ! Hello ! Is
Miss Oh, is that you, Laura ? Can you come
over at once ? I am in dreadful trouble ! Oh,
142 THE TRUTH
well, after dinner, then ! No, I was going out, but
I won't it's too important. You were right
and Eve's right too. Never mind, I can't tell
you over the 'phone. I'll explain everything to
night, only don't fail me. You can prevent a
real catastrophe that has no need to happen.
Oh, that's all right, don't stop another minute,
then. Thank you with all my heart. [She hangs
up the receiver, gives a long sigh, and sits worriedly
thinking. WARDER comes in, serious but calm.
Looking at him, half frightened, she makes a great
effort to be natural, and to be in a good humor.]
Hello, Tom ! Your game finished already ?
WARDER. We didn't play. Weld didn't get
back to town. Any callers?
BECKY. No.
WARDER. I thought I saw some one leaving
from the top of the street.
THE TRUTH 143
BECKY. Did you ? Oh ! it was probably
father; he came.
WARDER. No I spoke with your father some
fifteen minutes ago. He told me about the
money you gave him.
[A second's pause; BECKY looks down and then
up at him.
BECKY. Are you angry?
WARDER. You gave me your word you wouldn't.
BECKY. But I was so sorry for him that's
why he came to-day, he said he must have it;
I couldn't refuse him and you weren't here!
WARDER. He said you mailed him my check
day before yesterday.
[BECKY is silent, trapped, frightened. A pause,
then she speaks in a low -voice.
BECKY. I'm so sorry
[A second's pause.
144 THE TRUTH
WARDER. It looked to me like Fred L5ndon.
[BECKY, more frightened, realizing -what is
hanging over her, like a drowning person
who cannot swim, flounders helplessly about
in the next few speeches, trying to save herself
by any and every means that she thinks may
help her for the moment.
BECKY. Well, I'll be honest, it was Fred Lindon !
WARDER. [Anger getting the best of him.]
After everything your word of honor, Eve's
accusations, my absolute desire you sent for
him to come and see you !
BECKY. No, no, you mustn't think that, Tom!
He came of his own accord of course, I suppose
to see if I would see him ! I didn't know it !
WARDER. [Wary, suspicious, to lead her on.]
Then why did you see him? You could easily
excuse yourself.
THE TRUTH 145
BECKY. No, you don't understand. [She floun
ders hopelessly.] I didn't know it was he! Don't
you see?
WARDER. No, I don't see !
[Watches her with a face growing harder and
harder with each lie she tells.
BECKY. But I'm telling you it was just
like this ; I was upstairs and Jenks came and
said a gentleman wanted to see me in the draw
ing-room. Just that, don't you see a gentle
man. [She sees the doubting look in his face and
mistaking it, tries to make her story more plausible.}
I was surprised too, and said "Who?" and Jenks
said the gentleman gave no name [He turns
sharply away from her, unable to face her as she
tells the lies.] Yes, I know it was funny I
thought so then. I suppose Jenks considered
it a joke, and I suppose he didn't give his
L
146 THE TRUTH
name for that very reason, for fear I wouldn't
see him [WARDER, looking up as i/ to stop her,
sees the door Right open and quickly closes it.]
Of course the moment I came into the room
and saw who it was, I excused myself, and he
left.
WARDER. [In a -voice not loud but full of anger
and emotion.] Lies! all of it! Every word a lie,
and another and another and another !
BECKY. [Breathless with /right, gasping.] Tom!
WARDER. [Going to her.] You sent for him!
[She is too frightened to speak, but she shakes her
head in a last desperate effort at denial.] Don't
shake your head ! I know what I'm talking about
and for the first time with you, I believe ! [She
puts up her hands helplessly and backs away from
him.] I saw your note to him! [She starts with a
sense of anger added to her other emotions.] I
THE TRUTH 147
read it here, in this room ; he gave it to me before
you came down.
BECKY. The beast!
WARDER. [With biting satire.] You're going
to misjudge him too !
BECKY. No, Tom, I'll tell you the truth and
all of it!
WARDER. Naturally, now you've got to/
BECKY. No wait ! I did send for him it
was to tell him about those papers of Eve's.
WARDER. Yes, you must plan your escape
together !
BECKY. No ! because I still believed he was
decent. I thought it was his duty, that he would
claim it as his right, to prevent such a scandal as
Eve threatened to make, which he knew I didn't
deserve.
WARDER. Hah !
148 THE TRUTH
BECKY. You may sneer, but I don't! Yes,
I broke my promise to you what else could
I do? You wouldn't let me send for him! And
he came! And he did what you said he would.
He took me in his arms before I could stop him,
and kissed me.
[She bends over the back 0} the chair at Centre
on which she is leaning, and sobs.
WARDER. [Goes to her, speaking with bitter
irony.] Charming! And you turned on him, of
course ! Played the shocked and surprised wife
and ordered him out of the house!
BECKY. Yes. But I did! Why do you speak
as if I didn't?
WARDER. Do you expect me to believe this, too ?
BECKY. [Facing him.] I don't expect, you've
got to!
WARDER. Do you think you can go on telling
THE TRUTH 149
lies forever and I'll go on blindly believing them
as I have for three years?
BECKY. Even you couldn't have turned on
him with more anger and disgust than I did !
WARDER. I couldn't believe you if I wanted to !
You've destroyed every breath of confidence in
me!
BECKY. It's the truth I'm telling you now !
WARDER. In everything everything that has
come up since my eyes were first forced half open
you have told me a lie !
BECKY. It's the truth ! It's the truth !
WARDER. [Continues, hardly hearing her.] The
money to your father, the first lie, and to-day made
a double one ! All this rotten evidence of Eve's
another dozen ! Your promise that Lindon's
visit Thursday should be his last, the next !
BECKY. I meant it then I meant it truthfully.
150 THE TRUTH
WARDER. [Ignoring her interruption.} His visit
after all to-day that led of course to a mass of
lies ! And then the truth ! He kissed you ! And
then another lie and another dozen to try and save
yourself !
BECKY. [Quietly, in a hushed, frightened voice.]
By everything in this world and in the next that
I hold dear and reverence, I've told you the truth
at last.
WARDER. You don't know what's true when
you hear it or when you speak it ! I could never
believe in you again ! Never have confidence !
How could I? Ask any .man in the world, and
his answer would be the same!
[He turns and goes away from her, to control
his anger, which threatens to get the best of
him.
BECKY. [Sobbing.] No, no, To' Don't!
THE TRUTH 151
don't say that ! You must believe in me ! You
must believe in me !
WARDER. [After a pause, collects himself and
comes to the writing-table.} Becky, you and I must
say good-by to each other. We must finish
separately. [A silence. She looks at him in
dumb horror and surprise.} Do you under
stand ?
BECKY. [In a low voice.] No !
WARDER. We must separate. Quietly no
fuss, no divorce unless you wish it. [4 pause,
she does not answer. He goes toward her and
repeats.} No divorce unless you wish it.
BECKY. [With simple but deep pathos.} I love
you.
WARDER. You must stay on in the house for
the present, till you can make your plans. That
will help keep the thing quiet, too.
1 5 2 THE TRUTH
BECKY. Tom ! Do you really mean all you're
saying? Do you realize what it must mean for
me for both of us ?
WARDER. Yes.
BECKY. To-morrow, perhaps ?
WARDER. No. I shall go to Boston to-night
for a few days; when I come back, you may have
settled on something. If you haven't, I can manage
all right. I don't want to press you about that,
only
BECKY. I will not stay in your house one single
day without you.
WARDER. You'll have to! My price for hush
ing up Lindon and Eve, and every one else, is
that you on your side act with dignity, and as I
think wisest.
BECKY. [Going to the arm-chair at Left.] No !
A woman like me whose heart is breaking, whether
THE TRUTH 153
she's right or wrong, can't act like that. She
can't do iff
[She sinks into the chair, bursting into tears.
WARDER. [Beside her.] Try. For your sake
as well as mine. Good-by, Becky.
BECKY. [With the tears choking her voice. ]
I told you the truth the last time. Oh, can't
you believe me ?
WARDER. No good-by.
[Going.
BECKY. I love you and only you and you
always
WARDER. [Turns in the doorway.] The club
address will reach me !
[He goes out, closing the door behind him. BECKY''
sits still a moment thinking; then she goes
to the writing-table, rings the bell, and takes
up a time-table. Her hands drop upon the
I 5 4 THE TRUTH
table in utter dejection and her head lowers
as the tears come again fast and thick.
SERVANT. [Entering Left.] Yes, madam?
BECKY. [Controlling her emotion and hiding
as best she can the traces of it.] Tell Perkins to
pack my small trunk and hand-bag. I am going
to Baltimore to spend a day or so with my father.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
BECKY. And then come back, please.
SERVANT. Very good, madam.
[Goes out.
BECKY. [Takes up the telephone.] Hello! 708
Plaza. [As she listens for the answer she looks
about the room, the control goes from her face, and
the tears come once more; she brushes them away
and tries to speak in a conventional tone without
displaying her emotion, which is however plainly
evident.] Hello, I want Miss Eraser, please. . . .
THE TRUTH 155
Oh, ask her to call me the minute she's free,
please. Mrs. Warder. [She hangs up the receiver
and writes.] "I am leaving now. You will at
least believe that I cannot turn you out of your
house, nor can I live in it one single day without
you. It is ready waiting for you as I shall be all
the rest of my life if you can ever again believe "
[She stops as the SERVANT enters and comes
to her.
SERVANT. Madam ?
[BECKY finishes writing silently.
BECKY. [Sealing the note.] Has Mr. Warder
gone yet?
SERVANT. Only just this second went out,
madam. He told me to pack his bag and meet
him at the station with it.
BECKY. [Rising.] Give this to Mr. Warder
with his things
156 THE TRUTH
[Gives the note.
SERVANT. Yes, madam.
[He goes out Left. The telephone bell rings.
BECKY. [Going to the table, sits, and takes up
the receiver. Again she does her best to keep
the emotion out of her voice, but only partly suc
ceeds.] Hello! Laura? I'm so sorry, after all,
I can't see you to-night. Tom has been called
to Chicago suddenly on business yes, isn't it
too bad? And I've had a telegram that father
isn't very well, so I am taking the five-twenty train
to Baltimore. Yes, I'll write. No, I don't think
he's seriously ill. Good-by!
[She hangs up the receiver, dropping her head
on the table and sobbing heart-brokenly as
THE CURTAIN FALLS
ACT III
The same night. At Mr. Roland's rooms in Mrs.
Crespigny's flat, Baltimore.
ACT III
MR. ROLAND'S rooms in MRS. CRESPIGNY'S flat
in Baltimore. This is the parlor of a cheap flat,
with the bedroom, through an arch, originally in
tended for the dining room and lit by a narrow
window on a well. There is red paper on the
walls and red globes for the electric lights. An
ugly set of furniture, with many tidies, a strange
conglomeration of cheap feminine "nick-nacks"
relieved by a sporting print or two, a frame of
prize ribbons, and a few other masculine belong
ings which have been added to the original con
dition of the room, like a thin coat of paint. At
back is a bow-window beside a sofa. On the Left
159
l6o THE TRUTH
is the opening into the bedroom, and beside this
a door leads to the hall. There is a centre-table
with chairs on either side and a Morris chair
down on the Right. A sideboard in the upper
Left corner.
ROLAND and MRS. CRESPIGNY are playing piquet
at the centre-table. A "Teddy Bear" with a
pink ribbon bow about its neck is sitting on the table
near MRS. CRESPIGNY. They play on through
part of the scene. ROLAND slops to light a
cigarette, and MRS. CRESPIGNY takes advantage
0} the pause to powder her face and preen herself
in a pocket mirror.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. You don't think you smoke
too many of them?
ROLAND. If my smoking is disagreeable to you,
I might spend my evenings at the club.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. You know different! You
THE TRUTH 161
can't make that an excuse for skinning out of
spending your evenings at home. I only wish't I
smoked 'em myself. I've read in the papers that
real ladies do now but I guess it's the fast set,
and I always, was conservative.
ROLAND. [Playing.] Don't talk; study your
cards. If you don't take care, you'll win !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Will I? Excuse me, I
wasn't thinking. [She plays a card, and as RO
LAND takes the trick she takes up her mirror and
examines wrinkles.} I believe I'll have massage.
I heard of a fine massoor yesterday.
ROLAND. Masseuse, you mean, I hope.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Massoor! Massoose is plu
ral. The singular is massoor. You forget I
was educated in New Orleans.
[She rises and goes to the sideboard and pours
out a brandy and soda.
M
1 62 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. Where's my brandy and soda?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. I'm getting it.
[Bringing the glass down to the table.
ROLAND. That's a good girl. Thank you,
Mrs. Crespigny.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Ain't it funny, good friends
as we've been for so long now, we've kep' on
calling each other "Mr." and "Mrs."? S'pose it
wouldn't be etiquay to call each other by our first
names.
ROLAND. Etiquette.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Etiquay ! You can correct
my English when you want to, but my French
I've kep' pure since school, and I remember
perfeckly all words ending in e-t you per-
nounce A.
ROLAND. What is your first name?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Genevieve, but I was always
THE TRUTH 163
called Jenny by my first h ! I mean I was
always called Jenny by my schoolgirl friends.
ROLAND. [Playing.] Very interesting.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Playing.] I think your first
name's real pretty !
ROLAND. [Taking the trick.] Tut, tut ! You're
getting too skittish, Mrs. Crespigny.
[She laughs a little embarrassedly.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. It's your fault !
ROLAND. [Playing card, and laughing.] Then
I apologize !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Playing card, and giggling.]
Oh, you needn't !
ROLAND. [Laughing more at her than with her,
but realizing that she will not know the difference.}
I insist.
[He takes the trick.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Anybody'd think we was
1 64 THE TRUTH
engaged to be married or something of that sort,
wouldn't they?
ROLAND. I hope not !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh, I don't know ! I re
member some postal cards what I've read that
might be construed to lean that way. [ROLAND
rises and gets a cigarette from the box on the table
in the bow-window.} There was one from Atlantic
City that was just too sweet for anything! You
sent it after we had that ridickerlous quarrel on
the board walk.
. ROLAND. What about?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. I lost my self-respect and
asked you to kiss me, 'cause you said you was
grateful for the fifty dollars I gave you for your
poker losses the night before. And you handed
me back my money and said if that was the price
of the loan oh, how you hurt my feelings !
THE TRUTH 165
[With a touch of futile emotion.
ROLAND. [Coming back to his chair.} That was
only a bluff! Come along, I'll play you a game
for the whole bunch of postal cards.
[Takes up the second deck and shuffles.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Rising, speaks rather
grandly.} Nobody won't never get them postal
cards from me except over my dead body. [Cuts
the cards, and ROLAND deals.} And I intend to
refer to 'em every chance I get in hopes that some
day just in a desperate fit, maybe you'll up
and marry me to stop me.
[Sits again.
ROLAND. Go on, play.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. You've owned up you're
comfortable in my cute little flat and I don't
nag.
[Both take up their hands, both play, and she
takes trick.
1 66 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. You haven't the right, but as my wife
nay, nay, Pauline.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. You've got the best rooms
here, and if you ever do pay any board, don't I
lend it right back to you the next day?
ROLAND. Isn't it a little indelicate to remind
me of that, Mrs. Crespigny?
[Playing.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Getting a little angry.] Well,
I guess the indelicacy's even ! [She plays and
starts to take the trick. He stops her and takes it
himself.} Oh, excuse me, I'm at your beck and nod,
and I've even so far forgot my family pride as to
hint that you wasn't unacceptable to me in a
nearer relation.
ROLAND. There you go again! Keep off the
thin ice!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Throws down her cards and
THE TRUTH 167
loses her temper outright.] Well, why won't you
marry me? I may have forgot my pride, but I
never forget myself. You know you wouldn't
dare step over the invisible line between the dumb
waiter and the bath-room, what separates your
apartment from mine in the flat.
ROLAND. One moment, please. Have I ever
even hinted at taking the slightest advantage of
your unprotected position in this house? [He
rises in mock dignity.] Who's kept further from
that invisible line, you or I?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Well, I must say you've
always behaved toward me like a perfect gentle
man. [He sits again and takes another cigarette.]
But jes' let's speak the truth if you can about
anything ! [He fumbles in his vest pockets.]
Matches? [She rises, goes to the sideboard, and
finding a box o) matches, brings it back to the table.
1 68 THE TRUTH
During the first part of the following speech she
makes nervous and ineffectual efforts to strike
matches, in each case breaking off the heads without
any result.] You know you ain't wanted at your
clubs; that's why you first took to playin' even
ings with me that, and 'cause I was easy ! You
know that here in Baltimore you're called a tout,
a broken-down gambler, and a has-been, but I've
always hoped you was a will-be for me. [Irri
tated by her repeated failures, he takes the match
box from her and lights his cigarette with the first
match he strikes.] You know your old friends'd
rather go 'round the block than stop and talk to
you in the street. Yes, you know it as well as I
do ! And you've lived off me, borrowed money
of me, led me to caring for you, let me take care
of you as if you was my own child, and I've
saved you from bein' a drunken sot! [Her voice
THE TRUTH 169
fills uilh tears, but her anger gets the best of her, and
she finishes strongly, striking the table uith her
beringed hand as she leans across toicard him.}
Now, why ain't I good enough for you ?
ROLAND. [Rising, really angry, and his dig
nity offended.] Mrs. Crespigny
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Oh, you needn't get on your
high horse or I'll win this rubber for the five hun
dred ! I know you're worthless, and I know
you don't always tell the truth, but through it
all you've been a real gentleman to me, and I
realized yesterday, when I thought you was gone
for good, what it meant to me. I'm a decent
woman, Mr. Roland, if I am a fool, and I swear
I'm good enough for you!
ROLAND. So far as that goes, you're too good
for me, but I've got others to consider. My
daughter
170 THE TRUTH
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Interrupting him.] Yes, I
know she's against me. [She sits again, and with
determination.] Well, I'm against her, and per
haps some day I'll have a chance to pay her back !
ROLAND. That's talking foolishly! In the first
place, my allowance would stop the day I married.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Well, haven't I got enough
for two ? It's looked mighty like it the last couple
a years.
[She nervously takes the "Teddy Bear" jrom
the table to hide her embarrassment at her bold
ness, and laying it flat on her knee, /ace down
ward, relies the pink bow on its neck.
ROLAND. [Sitting, he gathers the cards together
and shuffles them.] Come, come, here we are
again on one of those useless discussions. Come
along, give me another brandy and soda.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Resignedly.] All right.
THE TRUTH 171
[Rises, and takes his glass, replacing the "Teddy
Bear" on the table.} This will be your second
before twelve o'clock and it's got to be a little
weakish. [She goes to the sideboard. The }ront
door-bell is heard ring.] My goodness ! who can
that be?
[The bell rings again.
ROLAND. Don't know, old girl, but go on, I'll
deal for you.
[He deals.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Going to the table, cuts the
cards.] I just love to have you call me "old girl"
it seems so nice and familiar.
[The bell rings again, and MRS. CRESPIGNY,
taking the "Teddy Bear" with her, places it
on the side table at Left and goes out. RO
LAND deals. After a moment's pause BECKY
comes in, carrying a hand-bag. She enters
with an air of bravado, which fades instantly
172 THE TRUTH
that she observes ROLAND does not see her.
Bui her pathetic, timid look -vanishes im
mediately -when he looks tip.
ROLAND. [Going on dealing, without looking tip.]
Who was it?
BECKY. [With forced gayety.} Hello, father!
ROLAND. Good Heavens!
BECKY. [Putting her bag on the table at Left.]
Aren't you surprised?
ROLAND. [Dryly.] Very.
BECKY. And pleased?
ROLAND. Where in the world did you come
from?
BECKY. New York; the next train after you.
Give me a kiss. How are you ?
[Kisses him.
ROLAND. What have you come for ? Where are
you stopping?
THE TRUTH 173
BECKY. Here!
ROLAND. At what hotel?
BECKY. No hotel here with you!
ROLAND. Nonsense ! There's no place for you
in the flat.
BECKY. Why not? I gave my check to the
expressman and my trunk will be around in the
morning.
ROLAND. These two rooms are all I have.
[Showing the opening to the Left.] Take a look
at the bedroom a beastly, dark little hole with
one window that doesn't look out, it looks in !
The bedroom of the flat we use for a dining room.
Mrs. Crespigny sleeps in the servant's room so
she tells me.
BECKY. Father !
ROLAND. Now you can see what nice sort of
174 THE TRUTH
surroundings your poor old father's had to put
up with these last years.
BECKY. [Takes off her hat and cloak and puts
them on so/a at Right.] You have only yourself
to blame! You could live splendidly on the al
lowance Tom makes you in the one club you've
got left.
ROLAND. You needn't take off your things,
you can't stay here.
BECKY. Oh, can't I? I've come to pay you a
little visit, and here I stay to-night and several
nights.
[Comes to the centre-table and starts to collect
cards.
ROLAND. Be careful ! That's Genevieve's hand
and we must finish this sometime I'm well
ahead. [Carefully places the cards, properly di
vided, on the table at Left.] And really, Becky,
THE TRUTH 175
you can't stay here. You can go to a hotel if you
want to, or back to New York. You're in the
way here ! I'm an old man; this sort of thing up
sets me ! There's no room and there's no bed
for you. [Crosses to the Morris chair and sits.]
What the devil do you mean, turning up here well
toward midnight, and threatening to stay, when
for years I've been trying to get you to come to
Baltimore, and you know you were ashamed to
come?
BECKY. [Sitting in the chair Left o) the centre-
table.] That isn't true, father; I always said I'd
come if you'd give up certain things.
ROLAND. Well, I haven't given them up, so
why have you come? What's the joke? ^nd
where's Tom?
BECKY. [After a second's pause.} That's just
it. Tom has been called to San Francisco
176 THE TRUTH
suddenly just after you left, on business and
the idea came to me, at last I'll make that visit to
father! It'll be a good chance for me to settle
Mrs. Crespigny, too !
ROLAND. You couldn't have come at a more
inopportune time ! I was very busy this evening.
BECKY. Yes, I know, piquet with Mrs. C. !
I'll finish it with you.
[Rises and goes to get the cards.
ROLAND. No, you won't ! You'll go to a hotel
for the night and I'll come and have a decent lunch
with you to-morrow.
BECKY. I can't go to a hotel. I've come away
without a penny. I had to borrow half the money
for my ticket from Perkins.
ROLAND. Where is Perkins?
BECKY. In New York. I knew, of course,
there'd be no place for her here.
THE TRUTH 177
ROLAND. Any of the hotel people here will
trust you.
BECKY. I won't ask them. I forgot to get
Tom's address, so I can't send to him for any
money. I've got to stay with you, father.
[She sits on the arm 0} the Morris chair and puts
her arm about her father.
ROLAND. You're a very boring person !
BECKY. That's a kind welcome for a dear and
only daughter !
ROLAND. And I'm not going to have myself
made uncomfortable by you !
BECKY. Please let me stay for a day or two,
maybe a little longer or maybe not so long. I'll
promise not to be any trouble; I'll sleep on the
sofa!
ROLAND. Humph! You don't know that sofa!
That was made in the antebellum and the ante-
178 THE TRUTH
springum days ! Even a cat couldn't sleep on it
without chloroform.
BECKY. Well, I don't expect to sleep, father,
and if I don't, you won't know it. I've got to
stay.
[Rises and goes away and stands by the table with
her back toward him.
ROLAND. [Looks at her, suddenly suspicious.]
Becky, you're not telling me the truth. Some
thing's the matter.
BECKY. [Turning toward him, taking a high
moral stand.] Really, father !
ROLAND. There's something wrong. What is
it?
BECKY. Nothing.
ROLAND. Oh, come, I'm your father, and I
know the look in your eyes when you're not telling
the truth; you get that look from me! You're
THE TRUTH 179
telling me a lie tell me the truth. What does
it mean?
BECKY. [After a second's pause, bursts out with
all her pent-up feelings, which she has been trying
to hide.] I've left Tom.
ROLAND. How do you mean "Left Tom"?
BECKY. Left him for good. I'll never live
with him again.
ROLAND. Nonsense !
BECKY. Never! You don't understand.
[She sits again beside the table, leaning her elbows
upon it and resting her face between her two
hands.
ROLAND. No, I don't! and I don't want to!
BECKY. I've left his house in New York for
good.
ROLAND. What's your reason? What's he
done?
i8o THE TRUTH
BECKY. He's deceived me.
ROLAND. [Rising.] Tom! Never!
BECKY. Father, I can't go back to him; I
can't! Don't ask me any more questions, only
keep me with you please, keep me with you. . . .
ROLAND. [Going to her.] You're upset about
matters. You've had a quarrel, that's all, and
you're going back to-night.
BECKY. No. I've told him I'll never come
back and I've come to stay with you.
ROLAND. But I won't have it! In the first
place, Mrs. Crespigny wouldn't have it either.
She'd be jealous of your being here and after
all it's her flat. And I don't believe what you tell
me about Tom.
BECKY. We can go somewhere else. Who is
Mrs. Crespigny? [Rises, and going to him takes
hold 0} his sleeve.] And I'm your daughter.
THE TRUTH 181
Besides, Tom's allowance will stop. From now
on you and I must get on together with the little
money I have from mother.
ROLAND. Nothing of the sort. Even if you
did leave Tom, you can make him take care of
you.
BECKY. I won't take any money from Tom!
No more money! Do you hear me, father?
ROLAND. {Becoming more angry.] No, I don't
hear you ! And I have something to say about
my end of all this, which is that you've got to go
back to your husband before it's too late for him
to take you back, and give him a chance to ex
plain ! You'll go back to Tom to-night !
[He goes determinedly to the sofa and gets her
hat and cloak for her.
BECKY. [Takes her hat from him and puts it
182 THE TRUTH
on the centre-table with equal determination.] I
shall sleep here, in this room, to-night!
ROLAND. You'll sleep in a Pullman car and
wake up to-morrow, happy and in your right
senses, in Jersey City.
BECKY. [Moves back from him a little.] You
can't turn me out !
[.4 pause. ROLAND reads the real trouble in
her face and becomes serious and sympathetic.
ROLAND. Becky, you don't really believe what
you say about Tom? [She lowers her head
in assent.] You know? [She lowers her head
again.] There must be a mistake somewhere !
[Puts the cloak on the Morris chair.] If I ever
knew a man who loved his wife! Go back,
Becky !
BECKY. It's impossible!
ROLAND. [Going to her.] I speak to you with
THE TRUTH 183
years of bitter experience behind me, and it's
only what good there is left in me which is urging
me to say this to you. I know in the end that
you'll be nearer happiness than you ever can be
any other way. Go back to Tom.
BECKY. No, no, I tell you, father, I've left
Tom for good ! Keep me with you
[.4 knock on the door.
ROLAND. Come in !
[MRS. CRESPIGNY comes in Left and BECKY
sinks down into the Morris chair.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Worried.] It's getting pretty
late ! I didn't know as Mis' Warder knew
the street car don't run past here after twelve
thirty.
ROLAND. That's all right. Mrs. Warder is
taking the one o'clock train to New York. We'U
catch the last car.
1 84 THE TRUTH
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Relieved, smiles.] Oh, well,
then, you've got plenty of time. I'd better let
you have' my latch-key, though. I'll leave it on
the hall table. [To BECKY.] Would you like
anything? A glass of raspberry vinegar and a
piece of jell cake?
BECKY. No, thanks.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Offended.] Good evening.
BECKY. Good evening.
[MRS. CRESPIGNY goes out.
Why did you say I was going? I'm not!
ROLAND. You are. If you love Tom, you'll
go. [He goes to her and puts his arm around her
shoulder.} Do you love Tom still?
BECKY. Yes, father.
ROLAND. Then go back, Becky 1
BECKY. No.
ROLAND. Your religion teaches you that the
THE TRUTH 185
greatest love always carries with it the power of
forgiveness.
BECKY. [Eagerly.] Oh, it's what I want to
believe. If it's only true if it's only true of us/
ROLAND. You've got to make it true by going
back ! [He moves away.] Good God ! you shan't
repeat your mother's and my mistake and make
a miserable failure of both your lives !
[BECKY looks up surprised.
BECKY. What mistake?
ROLAND. [Quietly, ashamed.} Your mother left
me, just as you want to leave Tom.
BECKY. Mother [Rises,] left you?
ROLAND. And for the same reason, do you
understand me that you want to leave Tom.
BECKY. But you never told me!
ROLAND. No.
BECKY. How long before she died?
186 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. A year.
BECKY. And how long were you and mother
happy together?
ROLAND. A few months not many.
BECKY. Tom and I have been blissfully happy
for six years !
ROLAND. That's an argument for me! Go
back!
BECKY. What a lot of lies you've always told
me about yourself and mother, all my life !
You always said you were an ideal couple and that
it was sorrow over her death that made you what
you are!
ROLAND. I was ashamed when you found me
out I wanted some excuse to try and keep your
sympathy and affection. Besides, what good
would it have done to have told you the truth?
[He crosses to the table Lejt, and taking up a
7 HE TRUTH 187
photograph of his wife, stands looking at
it.
BECKY. If you had always told me the truth
about everything, I think it would have saved me
this night. I've about decided that the truth in
everything is the best for everything in the end
if one could only learn to tell it.
ROLAND. You must begin young and you
didn't.
BECKY. By whose fault? [ROLAND turns away
from her, feeling the sting.] Tell me now about
you and mother.
[She sits again in the Morris chair.
ROLAND. [By the centre-table.] Well, your
mother accused me as you do Tom. But it
wasn't true of me, Becky ! it wasn't true then.
BECKY. I'm afraid I don't believe you, father.
ROLAND. You don't believe me when, even
1 88 THE TRUTH
now, after all these years, I tell you it wasn't
true?
BECKY. No. I want to believe you, father,
but I can't! You've just admitted you've lied
to me all my life about you and mother! Why
should I believe you would suddenly turn around
and tell me the truth now?
ROLAND. At last, one trait in you like your
mother! Do all that I could, swear by everything
she or I held holy, I couldn't persuade her I was
telling the truth !
BECKY. Perhaps you had already destroyed her
confidence in you ! You can do that, even with
some one who loves you, in a day, in an hour,
in even less!
ROLAND. It did look ugly against me, and
your mother was already disappointed in me. I
couldn't live up to her standard. [He smiles.]
THE TRUTH 189
I was sort of good-looking, when she married me,
too foppish, perhaps, and I rode my own
horses, generally to win, too, and what part of
my income I didn't make on the race-track I made
with the ace and right bower! I promised your
mother to give up the gambling side of it but
I couldn't, it was in my blood; I tried, Becky,
but I failed. I lied to her about it and she found
me out and began to distrust me. She was a
crank on the subject of lying, anyway. One of
those straightforward, narrow-minded, New Eng
land women who think everything that isn't the
truth is a lie! I always hated the plain truth.
I liked to trim it up a little.
BECKY. [With a nervous, pathetic little laugh.]
Like me !
ROLAND. Yes. I remember how we used to.
laugh at you as a child ! Almost the first words
igo THE TRUTH
you spoke were fibs, and gad, the fairy stories
you used to tell about yourself!
[Goes up to table.
BECKY. Yes. Do you remember the time,
father, after I'd been reading Grimm's Fairy
Tales about the wicked step-parents, how I told
all over Baltimore you were my stepfather and
beat me ? It made me a real heroine, to the other
children, and I loved it! And you found it out,
and gave me my choice of being punished or
promising never to tell another story ! Do you
remember ?
ROLAND. [Sils on the arm of the chair and puts
his arm about her.] I could never bear to punish
you!
BECKY. I always made up stories about every
thing. I didn't see any harm then
ROLAND. Well, your mother said I'd proved
THE TRUTH 191
I couldn't tell the truth! She didn't often use
plain and ugly words, but she called me a liar,
and I've never heard the word since without
hearing her voice and seeing her face as she said
it!
BECKY. You loved her! Oh, I know how it
must have hurt !
ROLAND. She wouldn't believe me, she wouldn't
forgive,- and she left me! I don't blame her; it
was my own fault at bottom ! But it's true as
land and water, Becky, as true as you're my
daughter, God help you, and that I've loved you
in my useless, selfish old way, I was true to your
mother. I loved her, and no other woman existed
for me then. I was willing to own up I had
broken my word and was a gambler! I was
willing to own up I was a liar, even, and perhaps
I deserved all I got, but I loved your mother,
I 9 2 THE TRUTH
and when she went back on me and believed the
one thing about me that wasn't true, I gritted
my teeth like a damn fool and said, "To hell
with women and to the dogs for me!"
BECKY. And it wasn't true! Father! I be
lieve you, it wasn't true !
ROLAND. No, but it was true enough soon
after! I kept my word to myself and gave her
plenty of reasons not to love me afterwards
and that was the beginning of the end of me.
BECKY. But if you'd only waited, if you'd
only given her a chance, wouldn't she have real
ized?
ROLAND. [Going to her, puts his hand on her
shoulder.] Yes, and that's why you must go back
to Tom to-night. Do you want to repeat your
mother's and my story? Go back, Becky!
BECKY. I can't.
THE TRUTH 193
ROLAND. Well, I can tell you what Tom'll
do if you put off going back to him till it's too
late. He'll let you go, and help you to divorce
him, so he can marry some other woman, your
opposite, and be happy the rest of his life.
BECKY. Father !
[BECKY shows a new element, jealousy, added
to her trouble.
ROLAND. Or else he'll grow hard and bitter
about all women, and the gold years of a man's
life will be brass in his mouth thanks to
you!
BECKY. Yes, and I'll live here with you and
grow dowdy and slattern, till I'm slovenly all
through body and soul ! I won't care how I
look or what company I keep in place of the
friends who will surely drop me. I'll take up your
life here, and my face'll grow flabby and my
194 THE TRUTH
heart dry and my spirit fogged, and I'll have
nobody to thank for the dead end but myself!
ROLAND. But I won't have it! You've got
to go back to Tom to-night! You were happy
enough with him this afternoon ! He's been a
wonderful husband to you and I know the run of
them ! I don't blame him for not wanting me
around, a father-in-law who was a disgrace
to his wife. He did right to keep me here where
I'm an old story and nobody cares. I'll own up
to this now that you want to turn your back on
him. But you shan't do it! You shan't break
up his home with a beastly scandal and spoil
your whole life and perhaps his, all in one hys
terical hour ! Listen ! [He goes to her and
places his two hands on her shoulders.] It's true
that no one was to blame for what I've sunk to
but myself. Still, it's also true that in the be-
THE TRUTH 195
ginning, perhaps, a great deal of patience, and
more forgiveness, might have made both your
mother's life and mine a little more worth living !
[He turns aside, surprised by a welling up 0}
an almost forgotten emotion.
BECKY. You don't dream how every word you
say cuts and saws into me ! But I can't go back !
ROLAND. You will. For if it comes down to
this point, I won't keep you here !
BECKY. But I can't go to a hotel! I haven't
any money.
ROLAND. I have enough for your ticket, and
I'll take you to the station and send a telegram
to Tom to expect you in the morning.
BECKY. No, I can't I can't.
ROLAND. [Sternly.} You've got to I You can't
stay here and I won't give you a cent to stay
anywhere else!
196 THE TRUTH
BECKY. You wouldn't turn me out into the
streets !
ROLAND. Yes, I will, if I must to force you to
go back to your husband.
[He gets her cloak.
BECKY. [Rises, desperate.] Father!
ROLAND. [Struck by her lone, pauses.] Well?
BECKY. [Drops her head and with a great
effort speaks, her voice sinking almost to a whisper.]
I haven't left Tom it's Tom's left me
[A pause. ROLAND stands looking at her and
her cloak drops from his hand, as he slowly
takes in what she means.
ROLAND. What do you say?
BECKY. Tom has left me now you know
why I can't go back.
ROLAND. What for?
BECKY. He called me what mother called you.
THE TRUTH 197
He's lost confidence in me. He believes
there's some one else.
[The last in agony of shame and grief.
ROLAND. No wonder you made me worm out
the truth! I wouldn't have believed it of you,
Becky ! I wouldn't have believed it of you !
BECKY. [Frightened.] But it isn't true, father!
ROLAND. Why didn't you tell me the right story
in the beginning?
BECKY. [Aghast.] Father ! don't you believe
me?
ROLAND. You denied it to him, I suppose?
BECKY. Of course.
ROLAND. And he turned you out all the same?
BECKY. He didn't turn me out; he only refused
to stay in the house with me. I came away !
ROLAND. Well, if your husband doesn't be
lieve in you, how can you expect me to, who've
198 THE TRUTH
known all your life you couldn't tell the
truth?
BECKY. Father, I've told you the truth now !
For God's sake, believe me, for if you won't be
lieve me either, what will become of me ?
ROLAND. I can help you better if you'll be
honest with me. A man like Tom Warder isn't
putting the wife he's been a slave to out of his
life without good reason.
[He turns away from her.
BECKY. You said you knew the look in my
face when I lied, because it was your look. [Goes
to him and stands close, facing him.] Look in
my face now and tell me what you see there.
[She speaks very simply and clearly.} I love Tom
and only Tom and never have loved any other
man and have never been anything but faithful
and true in my love for him. [ROLAND stands
THE TRUTH 199
silently looking into her /ace, still unconvinced.]
I stand with Tom exactly, father, where you stood
the day mother left you
[His face begins to change. A knock on the
door Left,
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Outside.] If Mis' Warder
wants to catch that train, I hear the car coming!
BECKY. [Breathlessly seizing hold 0} him with
her two hands.} Father!
ROLAND. Mrs. Warder's changed her mind.
She's stopping here to-night.
[Putting his arms about her.
BECKY. Father !
[Her tension gives way, and she lies limp in
his arms, her slender body shaking with the
emotion which now masters her as
THE CURTAIN FALLS
ACT IV
Mr. Roland's rooms 'in Mrs. Crespigny's flat, the
following Monday.
ACT IV
MR. ROLAND'S rooms in MRS. CRESPIGNY'S flat,
the following Monday. The sun pours in
through the bow-window; folded bedclothes and
a pillow are placed neatly on one end of the sofa.
BECKY and ROLAND are having coffee together
at the centre-table. The cloth is soiled, other
things in the room are in disorder, and everything
is decidedly unappetizing. ROLAND is wearing
a slovenly bathrobe; a newspaper is propped
against the coffee pot before him.
BECKY. How horrid and messy everything is!
ROLAND. [Who is smoking a cigarette as he
203
204 THE TRUTH
eats.] Oh, you'll get used to it. Before you
know it you'll like things best this way.
BECKY. Not if I can help it. I shall fight
against it.
ROLAND. You think so now; you've only had
one day at it.
BECKY. To begin with, my dear father, you
mustn't come to breakfast with me in that dis
gusting bathrobe.
ROLAND. If you imagine for a minute I'm
going to let you come here and upset everything
to rob me of my comfort, you'll have your hands
full.
[MRS. CRESPIGNY is heard playing a piano
in a farther room through most of the scene.
Her repertoire is varied, and consists of an
old waltz, a coon song, the "Melody in F" and
"Waiting at the Church."
THE TRUTH 205
BECKY. [With an effort at a smile.] It will be
another fight then, father, such as we used to
have. Only this time I'm stronger by six years'
life with a splendid character, which will help me
bring you and myself up to Tom's level, rather
than go down with you to this.
ROLAND. [To change the subject.] Have you
written Tom?
BECKY. [Sighing.] A hundred letters, I should
think.
ROLAND. And no answer?
BECKY. No, there isn't time.
ROLAND. Yes, he could telegraph.
BECKY. But I didn't send any of the letters.
ROLAND. [Looking up from his newspaper.]
You aren't eating anything.
BECKY. [Rising in disgust, goes and sits in
Morris chair.] Father, we can't live here, can we?
206 THE TRUTH
You must tell Mrs. Crespigny, and I'll find a
little flat, just for us two
ROLAND. [Irritably.] I knew it would come
to that! Not satisfied with upsetting Warder's
existence and your own, you've got to come here
and upset mine ! No, sir ! I'll marry Mrs. C.
before I'll leave here.
BECKY. That's a threat I know you won't
carry out. I've had two long, long nights to
think things over. I wish I could die, but I
know one can't die when one wants to. I know
sorrow, however heartbreaking, doesn't kill,
and I'm so horribly healthy I'll probably live
forever. I may even have to stand aside and
see Tom happy with some one else. Well, all
the same I mean to live exactly as I would if I
were still with Tom. I'm going to live as if every
day, every hour, I was expecting him back. I'm
THE TRUTH 207
going to live so that if he ever should come back
to me I will be ready to go home with him.
[The music slops for a moment.
ROLAND. That's all very well for you, but I
don't see why I should have to live a life to please
Tom just so you can leave me in the lurch when
he comes back after you. The odds are pretty
strong against his wanting me to go home with
him too! I've never ridden yet according to his
rules, and I don't intend to begin now.
[Goes to far table in the bout-window and takes
a fresh cigarette and changes his paper for
another,
BECKY. [Rising, takes the bedclothes from the
sofa.] Don't forget, father, what little money
we have is mine, so you'll have to live as I wish.
And in the end I believe you'll thank me.
[She goes into 'the bedroom.
208 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. But in the beginning I'll damn you,
and in the end too! I'm too old a leopard to
change my spots.
[He makes himself comfortable in the Morris
chair.
BECKY. [Coming out of the bedroom.} I'm
going to try just as hard as I can not to tell even
little lies, no matter how small, just to see if I
can't get into the habit of always telling the truth.
Because he might come back, father, don't you
think so? Don't you think maybe he'll come
back?
ROLAND. I'm doing my best to make him.
BECKY. [Surprised and eager.] How?
ROLAND. Never mind how. I'll tell you if it
works.
BECKY. [Piling the breakfast dishes on the
tray.] I hoped he'd answer the note I sent by
THE TRUTH 209
Jenks, but he didn't. No; when Tom says a
thing, he means it. I'm going out for a little
while.
[She places the tray on the table Left.
ROLAND. Where?
BECKY. There's a small empty flat two doors
below here; I'm going to look it over. I think
it may do for us.
[She goes into the bedroom.
ROLAND. Don't be gone long, because I might
need you.
BECKY. [In the bedroom.] For what?
ROLAND. To help receive Tom!
BECKY. [Coming out quickly.] Father!
ROLAND. Don't get your expectations too high,
but I telegraphed him yesterday to come here.
[The piano is heard again, but stops during
BECKY'S long speech.
p
2io THE TRUTH
BECKY. If he wouldn't come for me, he wouldn't
come because you asked him.
ROLAND. I feel if only you could get face to
face with him, Becky, especially now when he's
had time to think things over, to realize calmly,
away from the heat of anger, that whatever your
faults might be
BECKY. [Interrupts eagerly, going toward him.}
Yes, yes
ROLAND. Lack of love for him and faithless
ness couldn't be among them.
BECKY. Yes, if I could see him! [She kneels
on the floor beside him, her arms on the arm of
the chair.] I feel that if there's left in the bottom
of his heart no matter how deep down just
a little love for me, if it's only the memory of
what he once had, wouldn't my own love be some
sort of a magnet to bring his back? If I could
TRUTH 211
sit and talk to him, hold his hand, go back over
our life a little, couldn't I make him see that I
loved him and only him, that what I'd
done had been foolish wrong not to do as he
wished but only that wrong and that I've
learned something by this terrible lesson? And
if I promised to try with all my might and main
not to lie any more, if I promised I wouldn't be
discouraged with failure if he wouldn't be, but
would keep on trying, wouldn't he on his side try
to have a little confidence again? Wouldn't he
let me come back into his life just for that trial
anyway? . . .
ROLAND. I think so. A man like Warder
can't get over loving a woman all in a moment,
especially if he finds out before it's too late he's
misjudged her. Wrong as you may have been,
we know you're not so wrong as he thinks.
212 THE TRUTH
BECKY. But he won't come. You see you
haven't heard from him he won't come.
[She goes up to the bow-window and looks out.
ROLAND. I'm a little worried myself. I told
him to telegraph and said it was urgent.
BECKY. How urgent ?
ROLAND. Well, my dear, as you say, if I had
simply said, "Come and see Becky," of course
he wouldn't have paid any attention. I had to
make the telegram so he would come.
BECKY. Yes, but how did you?
ROLAND. It was a stroke of genius! I said,
"Becky is dying. Come at once!"
BECKY. [Going to the sofa and sitting on it.]
But I'm not dying. He'll find out as soon as he
gets here.
ROLAND. No, he mustn't. My idea was that
he would think you had tried to kill yourself
THE TRUTH 213
don't you see ? It would rouse his sympathies
perhaps some remorse and he would hurry on.
[Dropping the paper carelessly on the floor, he
rises.
BECKY. But he hasn't!
ROLAND. He couldn't get here till this morning;
still, I ought to have had an answer to the tele
gram.
[He goes into the bedroom.
BECKY. [Rises and goes toward the opening.]
And if he should come?
ROLAND. [Coming out of the bedroom in his
shirt-sleeves, without the bathrobe.} Well, you
must be careful not to give me away till you are
solid with him again. You must be weak and ill
just getting over it the doctor's saved you!
Anyway, I thought that might bring him.
BECKY. I don't like it.
214 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. [Going back into the bedroom offended.]
I did my best!
BECKY. But it seems to me as if I would be
telling Tom a lie again.
ROLAND. Not at all. I'm telling it. And
besides, doesn't the end justify the means?
BECKY. I think Tom'd call it a lie. I don't
want to do it!
ROLAND. Well, if he comes in answer to my
telegram, you've got to do it !
BECKY. No, father, I won't!
ROLAND. Nonsense! You can't get out of it.
And, good Heavens, why should you, if it's going
to give you back what you want and prevent a
terrible upheaval?
[The piano is heard again.
BECKY. Well, anyway, he hasn't answered,
so perhaps he won't come. I'm going out.
THE TRUTH 215
[Gets her hat from table Left.
ROLAND. Don't be long in any case. He might
have forgot to send word, or not have time, or
even have suspected something and not answered
purposely, and be coming all the same on this
morning's train !
BECKY. [Putting on her hat.] I'll see the flat
and come straight back. [She starts to go, stops
and turns in the doorway.] Thank you, father,
for trying to help me. If he only will come !
[She goes out Left.
ROLAND. [Lighting another cigarette.] Move
into another flat ! To live with everything so
filthy clean you can't be easy and let things go !
Ta, ta to the bucket-shop, and never a cent to put
on anything again ! Nothing but cleanth and
economy! No, no, Stephen Roland, not at your
age. [He stands gazing at a portrait of MRS. CRES-
2i6 THE TRUTH
PIGNY on the Right wall, with a half-humorous
expression of resignation, then crosses to the electric
bell on the Left -wall.] Listen, don't you hear
wedding bells? [He rings the bell.] Do you
hear them, Stephen ! [He rings again. The
piano off stage stops.] Wedding bells! [He turns
and walks toward the portrait again, nodding his
head definitely. A knock on the door Left.] Come
in Jennie I
[MRS. CRESPIGNY comes in.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Did you ring?
ROLAND. I believe I did.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. What's the matter? My
piano-playing disturb Mis' Warder?
ROLAND. Oh, is the pianola mended ?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Yes. The man said I worked
the pedals too emotionally.
ROLAND. I wanted to see you.
THE TRUTH 217
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Pulling her belt down and
her marcel wave out.} Well, I'm visible !
ROLAND. Mrs. Crespigny, I'm in trouble.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Going to him.] Now look
here, Mr. Roland, true as Gospel I can't let you
have another cent, not before the first of the
month. Your daughter's here now; you've got
to go to her.
ROLAND. Not so fast, please ! It isn't money.
At least that isn't this moment's trouble. My
daughter and her husband have quarrelled.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. I suspected something was
wrong. [She starts, aghast and angry at a new
idea which comes to her.] She don't mean to come
here and live?
ROLAND. No, she wants to take me away to
live with her.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Didn't I always tell you
2i8 THE TRUTH
she'd separate us if she could ! Now show your
character! I guess you're your own boss, ain't
you? You won't go, Mr. Roland?
ROLAND. But you see if they don't make up
their quarrel, my allowance stops and I won't
have a cent. I'll have to live where my daughter
wants me.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Taking from the bosom of
her shirt-waist a second-hand natural rose with a
wired stem, and destitute of green leaves, she twists
the wired part nervously about.] Why ain't one
woman's money just as good as another's for
you to live on ?
ROLAND. Mrs. Crespigny, you've come straight
to the point, and you've come pretty bluntly,
but that's just as well in view of the poor figure
I cut in the matter.
[He turns up toward the centre-table and places
THE TRUTH zig
on it his newspaper, which he has picked up
from the floor.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Why, I think, considering
your age, your figger's great !
ROLAND. [Looking at her despairingly.] I spoke
figuratively ! Now I'm doing my best to bring
about a reconciliation. Of course, if I succeed,
I can keep on living here just as usual I'll have
my allowance.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. But if you don't bring about
the reconciliation? . . .
ROLAND. Well, in that case, frankly, I should
have to leave you or marry you!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Going to the table.} Look
here, Mr. Roland, I want this in black and white !
Are you proposing to me?
ROLAND. Well, Mrs. Crespigny, in a way
MRS. CRESPIGNY. But there's a string to it?
220 THE TRUTH
ROLAND. You know you have once or twice
delicately suggested that a marriage wouldn't
be altogether disagreeable to you, but it's a poor
bargain for you, and in case the proposal should
ever be definitely made, I want to be sure you
know what you're getting!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. I guess I know well enough.
I ain't lived in the same flat with you for four
solid years without finding out whether or not
you was worth it to me. I know your faults,
Mr. Roland, but they're swell faults.
ROLAND. [He goes to the table in the window
to get a cigarette.] Mrs. Crespigny, suppose you
keep to the point, which is, if I marry if you
marry me, you do it with your eyes open. I'm
to have all the liberty I've ever had. None of
my habits are to be interfered with, none of my
ways of spending money.
THE TRUTH 221
MRS. CRESPIGNY. All right. I know I won't
be marrying a hero, but I'll be getting a high-
toned name and the company I want for keeps,
for if once we're married, your daughter nor nobody
else won't sneak you away from me, and you can't
get nothing in this world for nothing.
[She sits Right of the table with a lugubrious
expression on her poor powdered face.
ROLAND. Very well, then, [Coming down to her.}
if there's no reconciliation to-day, we'll consider
it settled without another word.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. And if she does make it up
with her husband?
ROLAND. We'll let that stand for the present.
I would still have my allowance and I wouldn't
have to leave the flat.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Then, so far as I'm concerned,
222 THE TRUTH
and I don't make no bones about saying it,
I'd rather they kep' separate.
ROLAND. Don't be selfish ! I think you'll
win without that. [He lifts her head tenderly,
smiling sweetly; then, as he turns away from her
the sweetness fades, and he looks at least twenty
years older. MRS. CRESPIGNY, happy but em
barrassed, tears the faded rose to pieces petal by
petal.] I don't understand it. I ought to have
had a telegram long ago!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Starts and rises.] A tele
gram! My stars! this telegram came before
you was up and I forgot all about it.
[Giving him a telegram.
ROLAND. That won't do! You'll have to be
more thoughtful than that! [Reading the tele
gram.] He's coming ! He's due here any minute !
THE TRUTH 223
And Beck out! Quick! help me make this look
like a sick room.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. A sick room?
ROLAND. I'll put this chair here for Becky to
sit in !
[Moving the Morris chair near to the table?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. And I'll put a towel on the
table. [Getting one from the bedroom.} But why
a sick room. Mr. Roland ! Who's sick ?
ROLAND. That's how I got him here. Tele
graphed Becky was dying and it's worked
he's coming!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. You ought to have some
bottles for medicine !
ROLAND. Bottles? Here's a couple!
[Getting a whiskey bottle and a brandy bottle
from the sideboard.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Taking the bottles from
224 THE TRUTH
him,] You don't want him to think she's been on
a spree, do you ? [She puts them on the table Left.]
Put a glass of water on the table. [He gels a glass
from the sideboard.] And I'll put this saucer and
spoon on top that'll look like homeopathic stuff.
[She places a saucer on the table and breathes on
the spoon and polishes it on a corner o) table-cloth.
ROLAND gets a pillow and a blanket from the bed
room and arranges them in the Morris chair.] Do
you know what we ought to have on that table?
An orange on a plate ! I don't know why it is,
but it always looks like sick folks, having an
orange on a plate by 'em! Wait a minute. I've
got a marble orange just like real. I'll get it.
I'll take the tray. [MRS. CRESPIGNY with the tray
at the door Left.] Josephine ! Josephine ! Oh,
never mind if your hands are in the suds ! [Ro-
LAND gets a hassock, which he places in front of
THE TRUTH 225
the Morris chair. He pulls down the window-shades,
takes the siphon, and fills the glass on the table,
putting the saucer and spoon on top 0} it. MRS.
CRESPIGNY enters with an imitation orange on
a plate.] Here it is! And I brought a knife with
it don't it look natural ?
[The front bell rings.
ROLAND. Becky !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. No I let her take the key !
ROLAND. Maybe it's he! And Becky not
back ! Don't let Josephine open the door yet !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Opens the Left door and
calls.] Josephine! Josy! I'll tend door; you go
on with your washing!
[She shuts the door.
ROLAND. Show him here
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Huh, huh?
ROLAND. And I'll tell him the doctor's with
Becky
226 THE TRUTH
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Huh, huh?
ROLAND. Then you watch for her, and when
she comes, knock on the door and tell me the
doctor's gone
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Doubtfully.] Huh, huh
ROLAND. Then- I'll go " to find out if she feels
able to see him," and bring her in as if from her
bedroom.
[He goes to the Morris chair and arranges the
pillow and blanket.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. It's lucky I don't have to
tell him all that! You know, I haven't got your
imagination! . . .
ROLAND. That's all right you'll see, they'll
be reconciled !
[Gets a fan from behind the book-rack on the back
wall and puts it on the table.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Reconciled!
THE TRUTH 227
ROLAND. Yes, yes, they'll be reconciled!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Our marriage is as good as
off then !
ROLAND. Yes, yes I mean we'll see ! [ The
front bell rings again.} Don't keep him waiting
he might get suspicious!
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Turning the matter over
in her mind, speaks very abstractedly.} Our mar
riage is as good as off then !
[She goes out slowly, weighing this sudden com
plication in her affairs.
ROLAND. Well, you never know your luck ! No,
no, don't close the doorl I'll be here, expecting
him.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Off stage.} How do you do?
Won't you come right in?
[WARDER enters,
ROLAND. So you've come, Tom?
228 THE TRUTH
WARDER. [Very serious.] How is she, father?
ROLAND. The doctor is with her now. Mrs.
Crespigny will let me know when he's gone. I
haven't let her know I telegraphed you.
WARDER. But will she get well? Is she no
worse?
ROLAND. We have every hope of her getting
well.
WARDER. [He turns aside to control a sudden
flood 0} emotion.} Thank God !
ROLAND. I think a good deal now depends
upon you. [WARDER faces ROLAND. ROLAND
goes to him.] Are you ready to take my daughter
back?
WARDER. [Very quietly, soberly.} Yes.
ROLAND. For good?
WARDER. If I can only feel sure Becky will
try only try to be straightforward and honest
THE TRUTH 229
with me, that's all I ask. God knows what I've
suffered these two days, and when your message
came oh, to have that on my shoulders too
it would have been more than a man could bear !
ROLAND. Whatever Becky's faults may have
been, you did her one terrible injustice!
WARDER. Yes, I know that now ! Becky,
never ! Father, hour after hour since the one
in which I left her, I've paced up and down my
room, or sat and gritted my teeth in the train, and
thought and thought and thought till the
anger died out of me and I began to see things
white and clear both ahead and behind me. And
all the time Becky's final words kept ringing in
my ears, and they rang true: "I love you, and
only you, and you always." . . . And the further
away from the excitement and anger I got, the
saner I grew. And as I passed over our life to-
230 THE TRUTH
gether, second by second of happiness, I found only
proof after proof of her love for me ! Yes, I did
Becky one great injustice, and I want to ask her
to forgive me.
ROLAND. [His belter self moved. Takes TOM'S
hand.} Tom
WARDER. After all, life is made up of com
promises and concessions, and if Becky will only
try, and let me help her
ROLAND. I believe you love her still?
WARDER. I can only answer you by saying that
I want more than anything else in the world to
believe in her again to have at least the begin
ning of confidence.
[With a knock on the door, MRS. CRESPIGNY
comes in, jrightened at what she is going to do.
ROLAND hesitates one moment, but his old
habit soon reasserts itself.
THE TRUTH 231
ROLAND. The doctor gone? [MRS. CRES-
PIGNY nods her head.] Excuse me.
[He hurries out Left. MRS. CRESPIGNY stands
looking after ROLAND, evidently trying to
nerve herself tip to the task 0} telling WARDER
the truth. She makes several ineffectual gasp
ing efforts to speak, and finally gets started,
rushing her words and not daring to speak
slowly for fear she'd stop.
MRS. CRESPIGNY. I'm going to do something
awful, and I only hope I won't be punished for it
all the rest of my life. Lord knows, seems as if I'd
been punished enough in advance. Can I trust
you?
WARDER. In what way?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. As a gentleman. If I tell
you something something that you ought to
232 THE TRUTH
know will you promise to see it through and
not let on I told you?
WARDER. I don't know if I can promise that.
Is it anything you have a right to tell me ?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Going toward him.] It won't
do you no harm to pertect me, and I give you my
sacred word of honor it's the truth instead of the lie
you've been told ! And all I ask is that you'll per
tect me as regards Mr. Roland.
WARDER. [Astounded, bewildered, but his sus
picions rearroused.] What lie ? Go on. I give you
the promise !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Whispers.] She ain't sick!
WARDER. Who?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Mis' Warder! She ain't
been sick that was all a story to get you
herel
WARDER. [Catching her two hands by the wrists
THE TRUTH 233
and, holding them light, so she can't get away from
him.] No ! don't say that !
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Ssh ! I will say it ! It's true !
The doctor wasn't here when you came ! Mis'
Warder was out and only came in when I knocked
on the door just now !
WARDER. Do you realize what you're saying?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Perfeckly!
WARDER. And you're telling me the truth?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. Keep your eyes open and
judge for yourself, that's all! Maybe you think
that's the truth !
[Snatching up the imitation orange from the
table, she smashes it on the floor. WARDER
moves to go; she stands in front of the door to
stop him.
WARDER. Let me go! I won't stay for this
brutal farce !
234 THE TRUTH
MRS. CRESPIGNY. You promised to pertect me,
and if you go now Mr. Roland'll catch on, and I
want him to marry me ! Now you know
WARDER. Was this his idea or hers?
MRS. CRESPIGNY. His, and she
[Listens.
WARDER. [Eagerly.] She what
MRS. CRESPIGNY. [Moving away from the door.]
Ssh ! they're here !
[WARDER controls himself and goes to the other
side of the room. ROLAND conies, bringing
BECKY, who leans on him. Her eyes are down.
WARDER stands immovable and watches.
ROLAND. [Pointedly.] Thank you, Mrs. Cres-
pigny.
[She goes out unwillingly. BECKY looks up and
sees WARDER. He stands motionless, watch
ing her.
THE TRUTH 235
BECKY. [As she meets WARDER'S eyes, breaks
away from ROLAND.] No, father ! I can't do it !
I won't do it!
ROLAND. [Frightened.] Becky!
BECKY. No ! I tell you it's only another lie and
a revolting one!
ROLAND. You're ill! You don't know what
you're saying!
BECKY. No, I'm not ill, and you know it, and I
haven't been ! And if I can't win his love back by
the truth, I'll never be able to keep it, so what's
the use of getting it back at all ?
[The tears fill her eyes and her throat.
WARDER. Becky!
[He wants to go to her, but still holds himself
back. His face shows his joy, but neither
BECKY nor ROLAND see this.
BECKY. [Continues a/ter a moment, pathetically.]
236 THE TRUTH
I thought I might creep back, through pity, first
into your life, and then into your heart again. But,
after all, I can't do it. [She sits in the Morris
chair, hopelessly.] Something's happened to me
in these two days even if I tell lies, I've learned
to loathe them and be afraid of them, and all the
rest of my life I'll try
WARDER. [In a choked voice.] Thank God !
[He goes to her, almost in tears himself. RO
LAND looks at WARDER, and realizes what it
means; a smile comes over his own face, and
at the same time his eyes fill with his almost-
forgotten tears.
BECKY. You can't forgive me!
i
WARDER. We don't love people because they
are perfect.
[He takes her two trembling hands in his, and
she rises.
THE TRUTH 237
BECKY. Tom!
WARDER. We love them because they are them
selves.
[And he takes her in his arms close to him, as the
final
CURTAIN FALLS
This book is DUE on the last
date (tamped below.
>CT 3 1968
I 8-19I
APR 3
4 -1961
?'
10M-M-50 2355 470 REMINBTON RAND INC. 20
AA 000 037416