Part 34 (1/2)

STERLING. But you _will_ stay?

[LEONARD _enters from Left._

LEONARD. Miss G.o.desby, Mr. Warden.

[_They enter._

[_All greet each other._ WARDEN _nods stiffly to_ STERLING, _barely acknowledging his greeting._

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_To_ STERLING, _purposely speaking with good-humored raillery to relieve the tension of the situation._] Well, you're a nice lot, aren't you?

STERLING. I'm so ashamed! I'm so ashamed!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, never mind that now.

BLANCHE. I have no words to thank you with.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, that's all right. The truth is, I've made Warden bring me here, Sterling, for a bit of business. I had an emotional moment yesterday and went off my head a bit. I stand by what I said as to keeping quiet, but--well, I'm like any other old maid who hates dust on her mantelpiece--I'm fidgety not to make some sort of a bluff at putting this thing on a business basis.

WARDEN. Excuse me, Miss G.o.desby, I think Sterling ought to know the truth.

STERLING. _Now_ what?

MISS G.o.dESBY. Well, the truth is, my fool of a brother has kicked up an infernal row, and refuses to hold his tongue.

STERLING. Then I'm ruined after all!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Wait, I've left him with Mr. Mason. I feel certain I can a.s.sure his silence if I can only show him some sort of an agreement to pay, an acknowledgment of the--the--affair, signed and sealed.

BLANCHE. Signed by whom?

MISS G.o.dESBY. Your husband and yourself will do.

STERLING. But both names are worthless.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Not as a point of honor.

STERLING. Ah! no, not my wife's.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Nor yours to me. Come along!

[_She goes to the table with_ STERLING, _and unfolding a paper gives it to him. He signs it._

WARDEN. [_Aside to_ BLANCHE, _apologizing for his presence._] She made me come--she wouldn't come alone; otherwise I should have waited till you sent for me.

BLANCHE. It's as well--I've decided. Oh, I wonder if I'm doing wrong.

[_Looking him straight in the face._

WARDEN. [_Looking back searchingly in hers to read the truth, but believing that she will certainly leave her husband._] No, _you_ can't do wrong! But I must warn you of one thing--I'm not any longer the controlled man I was.