Part 10 (1/2)

CELIA. Yes.

AUNT IDA. You are being frightfully immoral.

CELIA. Yes.

AUNT IDA. (_Startled_) And how on earth are you going to keep them from finding out?

CELIA. (_Taking_ AUNT IDA'S _hand_) Well, first of all, dear, a regiment did sail for Somaliland this morning.

AUNT IDA. Yes, but regiments sail back.

CELIA. Wobbles won't.

AUNT IDA. Wobbles?

CELIA. (_Laughing to herself_) Isn't that a heavenly name, Aunt Ida,--Wobbles?

AUNT IDA. (_Turning away from_ CELIA _reprovingly_) Celia!

CELIA. (_Still seated, throwing out her arms with a big gesture_) Oh, the difference that dear, dear man is going to make in my life. Oh, the difference.

AUNT IDA. (_Going back to_ CELIA _and putting her hand on her shoulder_) Oh, my dearest child. Do give up this mad scheme and come back with me and be happy in Chicago.

CELIA. Oh, I couldn't give it up now. It's going to be too much fun.

Now be a dear and stand by me through this and then I'll go to Chicago and stay there forever, but first let me have this one mad experience, do let me enjoy my blus.h.i.+ng triumph as a brave and absent soldier's adored fiancee. (_Crosses to table_ R. _and straightens writing things_.) Do you know, Aunt Ida, I just loved writing that first love letter to him just now.

AUNT IDA. But Celia, your letter!!!

CELIA. That is all right, dear. I burned that. Do you know what I am going to do, Aunt Ida? (_Suddenly throwing herself in chair_ L. _of table_ R.)

AUNT IDA. What?

CELIA. I am going to make it a point now to shut myself alone in my room every afternoon for hours--let someone else look after the house and the servants while I correspond with Wobbles. (AUNT IDA _laughs_.) I am going to give myself a chance at last. I'm going to do all sorts of wonderful things.

AUNT IDA. (_Down_ C.) What?

CELIA. (_Rising and coming to her_) I don't know what, but I'm going to do them. One day I'll wear a haunted look in my eye as I gaze sadly toward Somaliland. I wonder where it is. (_Looks around_.) The next, I'll have a merry laugh or else a mocking smile. By day, I'll wander through the woods and think of him. By night, I'll sit before the fire and dream of him.

AUNT IDA. Celia! Celia!

CELIA. Oh, I know I'll be a perfect fool, but I'll be the only one who will know it, and if one little fib can turn this household upside down, I am going to keep it there now just as long as it pleases me.

(_Saunters right_.)

AUNT IDA. (_Frightened_) Celia, suppose you are found out!

CELIA. (_Coming back_ C.) Now, what should I do? My heroic Wobbles--my beloved Colonel Smith will die--in Somaliland. (_Going to magazine table, gets calendar, comes down_ C. _to_ AUNT IDA _and runs over leaves_.) Now, let me see when--when will he die? (_Stop's at a leaf_.) On October 11th. There, now, it is all arranged. (_She replaces calendar on table_.) After eight brief months of the most perfect understanding, I shall lose--Wobbles. After eight months, I'll write out a notice of his death and _you_ will send it to the Times.