Part 70 (1/2)

We never have mosquitoes here. You must have been mistaken.

[_The servants are pa.s.sing in and out of house with courses. The BUTLER now brings a telegram to JUDGE._

JUDGE

From Julia! [_Tears it open eagerly, reads, and then shouts._] She's coming back to me, she's coming back! Look at that, look at that!

[_Jumps up and shows telegram to JOHN. Then taking it around to LUCY he sings to tune of ”Merrily we roll along”_:

Aunt Julia is coming back Coming back--coming back Aunt Julia is coming back Coming back from Reno.

HELEN

[_laughing_]

From Reno? That sounds like divorce, Uncle Everett.

JUDGE

Like divorce? Does that sound like divorce? [_Takes telegram from LUCY and hands it to HELEN._] Read it aloud.

HELEN

[_reading_]

”Dear boy, I can't stand it, either. Come to me or I go to you.”

JUDGE

[_sings during the reading_]

Coming back from Reno. [_Breaks off--to HELEN._] So you thought we wanted a divorce, did you?

[Ill.u.s.tration: _From a photograph by White Studio._

JUDGE: We thought we believed in trial marriage. Nothing of the sort--trial separation! What marriage put asunder divorce has joined together.]

HELEN

I never dreamed of such a thing.

JUDGE