Why Marry? Part 55

JOHN

He's got it, all the same.... See here! Haven't I enough to worry me without your b.u.t.ting in? Jean's got to marry _some_body, _some_time, hasn't she?

THEODORE

But not Rex, not if I can prevent it.

JOHN

But you can't--you have nothing to do with it ... except to perform the ceremony and get a big, fat fee for it.

THEODORE

I--marry Jean and Rex? Never!

[_JEAN comes out. She is frightened and turns timidly to THEODORE for protection._

JOHN

Jean, don't detain Theodore. He has an important business letter to write. [_THEODORE turns to JOHN indignantly._] Your wife's sanatorium bills--better settle up before they dun you again.

THEODORE

With your money?

[_Takes JOHN'S check out of pocket, about to tear it._

JOHN

[_catching THEODORE'S hand_]

For Mary's sake, for the children's--don't give way to selfish pride....

Want to kill your wife? Then take her out of the sanatorium. Want to ruin your children? Then take them out of school!... Cash your check, I tell you, and pay your debts!

[_THEODORE glances at JEAN, at check. A struggle. At bay, he finally pockets check and dejectedly goes into the house._

JEAN

[_with a wet handkerchief in hand_]

Well? If I refuse to marry Rex?... Cut off my allowance or merely bully me to death?

JOHN

[_kindly_]

Oh, come! You've filled your romantic little head full of novels. I never force _any_body to do _any_thing. [_Suddenly breaks out._] My heavens! what's the matter with all of you? I only want to give you and Lucy and Helen and Theodore and the whole family the best of everything in life! And what do I get for it? I'm a brutal husband, a bullying brother, and a malefactor of wealth. Lord! I guess I have some rights, even if I have got money!

JEAN

Rex has money, too. Should that give him the right to women? I, too, have some rights--even though I _am_ a woman.

JOHN

Any woman who can't care enough for a Baker to marry him--Rex is the sort who would do everything in the world for the woman he loves, everything. All the Bakers are like that.

JEAN

But what would he do for the woman he no longer loves?

JOHN

He wasn't fool enough to tell you about that?

JEAN

About what?

JOHN

[_halting_]

Nothing--I thought--I tell you, Rex has reformed.

JEAN

You thought I meant his "past." I meant his future ... and my own.

JOHN

Well, if you expect to find a saint, you'll never get married at all.