Sterling. Well, as to that, she decides to stay, leaving love out of the question.
Warden. And you'll accept that sacrifice! You don't evenloveher. You're only thinking ofyourselfnow. Love, real love, forgets itself. You, after having spoilt half her life, are willing to spoil the rest, foryour own sake!
Sterling. No, for the boy's sake, and her sake—to save a scandal—the world—
[Interrupted.
Warden. [Beside himself.] Oh, damn the world! It'sheavenandhellyou'd better think of.Scandal!It couldn't harmher, and the hurt it would do you is a small price to pay. Those whomGodhas joined—yes! but it was the devil bound her to you!
Sterling. Here! I've had enough! Look out!
Warden. [Moves toward him.]Youlook out—you shan't rob her of her happiness. You—a drunkard! A forger! A thief!
Sterling.I'd keep her now if only to spite you!
Warden. Hah! There spoke the true man in you! Would to heaven the old days of duelling were back!
Sterling. A brave wish, as you know they're not!
Warden. They fight in other countries still for their love and honor, and I'm ready here, now, if you are, with any weapons you choose!
[Sterlingsneers.]
Sneer! But will you fight? We'll find a place, and something to fight with, or fists if you'd rather! You wouldn't kill me before I'd got you out of her way for good. Will you fight?
[Coming closer to him.
Sterling. No!
Warden. [Getting more and more enraged.] Ifyou lose, you go away, and set her free of your own will!
Sterling.No!
Warden. [Losing entirely his self-control.] What do you want tomakeyou fight—will that?
[He gives him a stinging blow in the face.
Sterling. Yes!
[He springs towardWardenasRuthandMasonenter Left. The two men stand rigid,Wardenbreathing heavily.
Ruth. Blanche, may I bring in—where's Blanche?
Sterling. I don't know.
Mason. Good morning, gentlemen.
[There is no response.Wardenis with great difficulty restraining himself. His lips are compressed lightly and his hands clenched.
Ruth. What's the trouble?
Sterling. I have just told Warden my wife's decision not to leave me.
Ruth. [Showing her relief and satisfaction in her face, turns toWarden.] You won't try to shake that resolve?
Warden. [Unable to control himself.] But I will! Iwill—I tell you all! I hardly know what I say or do! But look out for me, I'm desperate! I'm a torrent that's only let loose since yesterday, and now all of a sudden you try to stop me! But it's too late; I've got my impetus; the repressed passion of years is behind me; nothing can stop me—and God keep me from doing the wrong thing! I am determined to clear him out of the way of the happiness of the woman I love. [ToRuth.] Do you mean to say you approve of her decision? [Ruthturns her head; he turns toMason.] Doyou?
Ruth. No.
Sterling. [ToRuth,holding out his hand.] You will stand by me, Aunt Ruth, and together we—
Ruth. [Interrupting and refusing his hand.] Oh, no.
Sterling. Don't you think I can win her love back?
Ruth. No.
Sterling. Won't you help me try?
Ruth. No. It would be useless.
Warden. Come with me to Blanche; I must speak with her.
[WardenandRuthgo out Right.
Mason. [Alone withSterling.] Go away and make your wife understand you are never coming back.
Sterling. But the loneliness, the misery, away—alone.
Mason. Kill them with hard work;you have other heavy debts, you know. I came to see you about this business of your acknowledgments to Miss Godesby and Miss Hunter.
Sterling. Later, later. To-morrow I will decide—
[He motions him away.Masongoes to him and puts his hand on his shoulder.
Mason. Decide well—
[He hesitates a moment and then goes out Right.
Sterling. [Watching him go.] There's not one soul in this world who cares for me, and it's myown fault. [Richardis heard upstairs again singing "Once in Royal David's City."Sterlinglifts his head and listens.] Yes, one little soul loves me, and it would be better for him, too, if I went away. I'll go to sleep and see how I feel about it when I wake up. [He moves the glass of water and takes out the box of tablets. He starts suddenly, but very slightly, and his muscles tighten.]
After all, why not end it allnow, at once, without any more bother? [He looks in the box, and glances up questioningly; then he remembers the fireplace where he threw the other tablets and looks across the room at the logs. He rises, goes over, and sees in the fireplace the twisted envelope which holds the other tablets. He bends over to pick it up; he stops short.] No! Why shouldn't I try it, anyway? She, herself, gives me the chance! [He rings the electric bell, and walking away from the fireplace, takes up with a trembling hand the papers left byMason;he wipes the damp from his forehead with his handkerchief. ToJordan,who enters Left.] Light the fire quickly; I feel cold.
[He sinks into the arm-chair, weak from the mental strain.
Leonard. It's very warm in the house, sir.
Sterling. Do as I tell you—light the fire.
Leonard. [Looking for matches on the mantel, finds the box empty.] There are no matches, sir; I must get one.
Sterling. No, don't go—here—here—
[He gives him a match from his own box.Leonardnotices the trembling hand and suppressed excitement ofSterling,and involuntarily glances up, but quickly looks back to his work and strikes a match. The match goes out.
Leonard. I shall need another match, please, sir.
Sterling. [With one in his fingers taken from his match-box, he alters his mind.] I have no more. [He puts away his match-box.] Never mind the fire; get me a pint bottle of champagne.
Leonard. [With a surreptitious side glance of curiosity.] Very well, sir.
[He goes out Left.
Sterling. That was funny; that was very funny! I wonder if it was accident, or if there's such a thing as fatality. [He goes to the fireplace and picks up the twisted envelope.] If not now—perhaps some other time—who knows? [He thrusts the envelope in his vest pocket, and takes up the papers again from the table to look over them.] I can't read these things! [Throwing them down.] The words mean nothing to me!
[There is the sound outside of a cork being drawn.Leonardenters with the champagne and a glass and places them besideSterling.
Leonard. Shall I light the fire now, sir?
Sterling. No, never mind now.
Leonard. Yes, sir.
[He goes out Left.
[Sterlinghalf fills the glass with champagne. He takes out the box of tablets and counts aloud.
Sterling. One, two, three, four—[He puts all in the glass, dropping them as he counts. He hesitates, then quickly drops in two more and drinks quickly. The glass is empty. He sits by the table thinking a moment, then lakes a piece of paper and makes ready his stylographic pen.] Let me see; can I make it seem accidental; it would be so much less bother and trouble for them! [He thinks a second, then writes.] "I have accidentally taken an overdose of my sleeping draught. I have tried to call some one, but it's no use. I ask only one thing, that you forget all my sins, wipe out their memory with my name. I want my boy to change his name, too." [He hesitates a moment, and then scratches that sentence heavily out.] No, I won't say that. [He waits a moment.] God in heaven, what wouldn't I give for one friendly word just now! Some one to sort of saygood-byto me—take my hand—even aservant!
[He looks about him, showing signs of drowsiness. The door Right bursts open.Sterlingquickly hides the letter in his inside pocket asWardencomes in.
Warden. My hat! Where's my hat!
[He looks about for it.
Sterling. [Quietly.] Ned?
Warden. My hat, I say! Where's my hat?
[Looking.
Sterling. Ned!
[Something in his voice arrestsWarden'sattention.
Warden. What? [He looks at him.] What's the matter—
Sterling. Nothing—I'm half asleep, that's all—the reaction—I'm worn out and I've changed my mind—
Warden. How do you mean?
Sterling. I'm going away for good—that's the best I can do; I want you to forgive me—couldyou? What do you say? Forgive me for everything! For the sake of the old schoolboy days—
Warden. When are you going?
Sterling. To-day. Will you say good-by to me and wish me well on my journey?
Warden. [Speaks without sympathy.] You can count on me always to help you in any way I can. You can still retrieve a good deal if you're strong enough.
Sterling. I know what a beastly friend I've been, and yesterday was more than any man would stand, but forgive that, too, will you? I've always been a bad lot!
Warden. [Goes to him and speaks, with the sympathy of a man for a child coming into his voice.] No, a weak lot; that's been your ruin, Dickie. I'll see you again before you go.
Sterling. No, I'm going to sleep as long as I can now, and I don't want any one to wake me up; but when I do wake, I shall have other things to do. This is good-by.
Warden. Well, good luck! [He starts to go. The two men look at each other, and finallySterlinggets the courage to hold out his hand.Wardenhesitates a moment, then shakes it.] Good luck!
[He goes out Left.
[Sterling,who has been growing more and more drowsy, as soon as he is alone, goes with difficulty to the door and locks it. He is so drowsy that he leans against the door for a moment; then he starts to go back to the table, but is unable to get there and sinks on the sofa half way between the table and the door. His eyes close, but suddenly he starts violently and tries to rise, but cannot, crying out faintly.
Sterling. Good God—the money! I forgot the money—who'll pay my debts? Ah, this is a fitting climax for my life—the weakest, dirtiest thing I've done—[He gets the letter from his pocket and holds it in his hand; the light of the afternoon grows slowly dim, like his fading sight and senses. He murmurs twice in a faint, drowsy voice.] Coward! Coward!
[Blanche,in the hall outside Right, calls his name.
Blanche. Dick!
[Sterling'sbody relaxes and sets. The letter drops from his lifeless hands.
[Blancheenters withRuth,followed byRichard,who rides a stick with a horse's head and wears a soldier's cap.
Richard. Merry Christmas, father!
Blanche. [Going toward the sofa.] Dick!
Richard. Merry Christmas, father!
Blanche. Sh! Father's asleep.
[They steal back toward the other door whenWardenenters Right.
Warden. Oh, you are here! I went down into the drawing-room where I left you.
Blanche. Sh!
[She points toSterling,who lies apparently asleep. They speak in lowered voices.
Warden. Yes, I have a message for you from him.
[Looking atRichardandRuth.
Ruth. [Who understands.] Come, Richard, I haven't seen your tree yet.
[She goes out Right withRichard.
Warden. [ToBlanche.] Give me your hand.
[She does so wonderingly.
Warden. [Softly, with a man's tenderness in his voice.] He is going away for good.
Blanche. Away?
Warden. For good.
Blanche. [Slowly, withdrawing her hand.] For good? [She looks over towardSterling,and then back toWarden.] What does he mean?
Warden. We will know when he wakes.
THE CURTAIN STEALS SOFTLY DOWN