Part 25 (1/2)

_Will. (Leans on hands.)_ Oh, dear.

_Peggy._ Tired, Will?

_Will._ I'm getting a beastly headache.

_Peggy._ Will, you know you oughtn't to work when your stomach has quit like this.

_Will._ Hang my stomach!

_Peggy._ But, dear--

_Will._ Why do authors have to have stomachs? They're never of any use.

_Peggy._ Listen, Will. You can't do good work when you're so tired.

_Will._ I can do good work! You'll see it's good. I've nearly finished the fourth act now. Come, read it--and forget about my stomach. _(She moves over to him. The Play-play begins to appear.)_ The scene is Dad's drawing-room again. Jessie is there; she's worrying about Jack, and Bob is trying to comfort her. _(Full light on Play-play.)_

_Bob._ He's all right, Jessie. Anybody'd think he'd gone to war!

_Jessie._ He was never away for so long before.

_Bob._ Don't I seem a fairly healthy specimen, Jessie?

_Jessie._ I suppose so, Bob.

_Bob._ Well, I've done what he's doing. I've done it for a year. And I survived.

_Jessie._ But you knew how, Bob.

_Bob._ I didn't when I started.

_Jessie._ It snowed last night; I lay awake till daybreak worrying about him.

_Bob._ My dear girl, men have got snow on their clothes before this.

_Jessie._ He's been gone a month!

_Bob._ Listen, Jessie! You know there's misery and suffering in the world, don't you?

_Jessie._ Yes, I suppose so.

_Bob._ And could you wish Jack to live all his life in indifference to such things--just idle and play, and spend the wealth that other people produce for him?

_Jessie. (Clenching her hands.)_ Oh, if he'd only come home! _(The telephone rings.)_

_Bob._ I'll answer it. _(Goes to phone.)_ h.e.l.lo. _(A pause; then exclaims.)_ Why, what's happened? _(Another pause; he turns to Jessie.)_ It's Jack!

_Jessie (leaps up.)_ Jack!

_Bob._ Ssh. _(In phone.)_ Yes, what's that? What's the matter? Well, I declare! Sure, Jessie's here. Yes, Dad's upstairs. No, I won't tell him. Perhaps he won't. Hey? In two minutes? All right! Bye-bye!

_(Turns.)_ He's coming home!