Part 28 (1/2)

BLANCHE. Early this morning.

WARDEN. And you have come just now from where?

BLANCHE. Aunt Ruth's. Of course you know about my mother? When I heard it I started to come here, but my heart failed me and I turned back to my aunt's. She has persuaded me that I ought to come and put the best face on the matter possible, but it seems as if I'd had now a little more than I _can_ bear!

[_Her voice breaks and her eyes fill with tears._

WARDEN. [_Almost tenderly._] Shall we go inside?

BLANCHE. No, no! Let us stay out in the air; my head would burst in one of these close little rooms. Have you seen mother?

WARDEN. No, not yet.

BLANCHE. Where is d.i.c.k? Did he go to Ryder's?

WARDEN. No, but I have some good news to tell you all the same--Ryder has promised silence.

BLANCHE. [_With tremendous relief._] Oh! that's too good, too good to be true! To whom did he promise?

WARDEN. I want you not to ask me that.

BLANCHE. I can guess, it was--

WARDEN. [_Lying._] No, it was--_Mason_.

BLANCHE. [_Doubting him._] Mr. Mason?

WARDEN. And I've more good news for you, Mrs. Sterling--the _G.o.desbys_, too; _they_ will be silent.

BLANCHE. You're sure?

WARDEN. We have their word!

BLANCHE. [_Pointedly._] Mr. Mason again?--

[WARDEN _bows his head in a.s.sent._] He was _here_?

WARDEN. Some time ago, but only for a minute. He didn't stay; he went to find your husband.

BLANCHE. But the _G.o.desbys_? I just met them now on the road going back.

How could Mr. Mason, if he didn't stay--[WARDEN _is embarra.s.sed, and is silent, searching a way out of it._] Oh, no! no! it wasn't Mr. Mason! I see the whole thing clearly. d.i.c.k was too great a coward, and _you_ did it! It was _you_ who won over Ryder! It was _you_ who persuaded the G.o.desbys!--

[WARDEN _shakes his head and makes a movement to deny it._ BLANCHE _continues speaking, the words rus.h.i.+ng to her lips, as her pent-up heart opens and lets all her emotions suddenly free._] Don't try to deny it; you can't make me believe you! It's to _you_ I owe whatever promise the future has for me! It is _you_ who have given me all the happiness I've had for years. It is _you_ who have watched over, taken care of, me--_you_, the best friend any woman in this world ever had. It is _you_ now who have saved my boy's honor. It is _you_ who lift the weight off my shoulders, the weight off my heart! You!--you!--you!

[_She sinks sobbing on the bench. It begins to snow very quietly and slowly._

WARDEN. [_All his love bursting out into his face and into his voice, cries._] Blanche! Blanche!

[_Leaning over her as if to protect her from her trouble and take her to his breast._