Why Marry? Part 20

THEODORE

[_following her_]

All the same, deep down under it all, she has a true woman's yearning for a home to care for and a mate to love. [_She is silently crying._]

Why, Helen, dear, what's the matter?

HELEN

[_hiding her emotion_]

Oh, why can't they let me _alone_! They make what ought to be the holiest and most beautiful thing in life the most horrible and dishonest. They make me hate marriage--hate it!

[_Unseen by HELEN, the BUTLER steps out._

THEODORE

[_patting her shoulder_]

Just you wait till the right one comes along.

BUTLER

[_to LUCY_]

Doctor Hamilton has come, ma'am.

HELEN

[_with an old-fas.h.i.+oned gasp_]

Good heavens!

[_And runs to the family._

LUCY

Show Doctor Hamilton out.

[_The BUTLER goes._

HELEN

A plot to entrap him! [_Running to and fro wildly._] But it's no use!

I'm going ... until he's gone!

[_HELEN runs into the garden._

JUDGE

Fighting hard, poor child.

THEODORE

But what'll we do?

JUDGE

Don't worry--she can't stay away--the sweet thing!

JOHN

Now listen, we must all jolly him up--he'll be shy in these surroundings.

JUDGE

Going to surrender, John?

JOHN

What I am going to do requires finesse.

LUCY

[_in a flutter, seeing HAMILTON approach_]

Oh, dear! how does one talk to highbrows?

JUDGE

Talk to him about himself! Highbrows, lowbrows, all men love it.

[_ERNEST HAMILTON, discoverer of the Hamilton ant.i.toxin, is a fine-looking fellow of about thirty-five, without the spectacles or absent-mindedness somehow expected of scientific genius. He talks little but very rapidly and sees everything. It does not occur to him to be shy or embarra.s.sed "in these surroundings"--not because he is habituated to so much luxury, on three thousand a year, nor because he despises it; he likes it; but he likes other things even more. That is why he works for two thousand a year, instead of working for fat, fas.h.i.+onable fees in private practice._

_JOHN meets his distinguished guest at the door--effusively, yet with that smiling condescension which wealthy trustees sometimes show to "scientists, college professors, and that sort of thing."_