The Naturewoman Part 19

ETHEL. No... hardly that.

OCEANA. All right, then, dear. I'll save you... trust me. I mean to give you a chance for life.

ETHEL. And, oh, Oceana... what do you think? Freddy's run away, too!

OCEANA. What?

HENRY. Where to?

ETHEL. He's gone out West!

OCEANA. You don't mean it!

HENRY. What for?

ETHEL. He says he's going to be a cowboy. He's going to make a man of himself. He left a letter to father.

OCEANA. Why, the dear boy!

ETHEL. [Mysteriously.] Oceana, do you know what was the matter?

OCEANA. No... what?

ETHEL. I think I know. He was in love with you!

OCEANA. I shouldn't wonder, my dear. [Laughs.] But don't tell Henry. .. he'll be jealous!

[Sound of sleigh-bells louder.]

ETHEL. Here she is!

OCEANA. You go into the next room now. It wouldn't be considered proper for you to hear what we're going to say.

ETHEL. Of all the adventures!

[Exit.]

OCEANA. [Smiles at Henry.] Now then!

HENRY. You wanted it, my dear!

[They turn, gazing right. The sleigh-bells have come nearer, then stopped. Some one is heard to step upon the piazza and stamp the snow from the feet.]

LEt.i.tIA. [Enters right, stares at Oceana and screams.] Oceana!

OCEANA. Let.i.tia...

LEt.i.tIA. [Gasps for breath.] Henry! How dared you bring me here to meet that woman?

OCEANA. Let.i.tia...

LEt.i.tIA. Don't speak to me! Don't you dare to speak to me! [She sinks down by table and bursts into tears.] Oh, how horrible! How horrible! As if I had not humiliations enough already!

HENRY. [Taking step toward her.] Let.i.tia...

OCEANA. [With a swift gesture.] Wait!

LEt.i.tIA. Oh, who would have thought it possible! To bring me 'way up here...

OCEANA. You might as well understand at the outset... the thing cannot be done that way.

LEt.i.tIA. [With concentrated hatred.] You dare!

OCEANA. We have sent for you...

LEt.i.tIA. WE have sent for you!

OCEANA. Because we wished to talk things out with you in a sensible way. And you'll have to make up your mind to control yourself.

LEt.i.tIA. [Sobbing.] Henry, you permit this shameful humiliation!

OCEANA. Henry has nothing to do with this affair, Let.i.tia. It is I who have to talk to you.

LEt.i.tIA. [Bursts into hysterical weeping again.] Oh, that I should have lived to see this!

OCEANA. You will find out before you get through that I mean to deal with you fairly. But you cannot accomplish anything by hysterics.

LEt.i.tIA. Oh, oh, oh!

OCEANA. And you had best believe me; you injure your case by refusing to act rationally.

LEt.i.tIA. [Looks up, frightened.] What do you want with me?

OCEANA. [Quietly.] In the first place, Let.i.tia, I want to convey to you the information that your husband's relations.h.i.+p and mine has so far been what you would call innocent.

LEt.i.tIA. What?

OCEANA. I was a virgin when I came to Boston, and I am a virgin still.

LEt.i.tIA, And you expect me to believe that?

OCEANA. My dear, I don't care in the least whether you believe it or not.

LEt.i.tIA. [Faintly.] But...

OCEANA. What reason would I have to fear you? He is mine, if I want him.

LEt.i.tIA. [Dazed.] Then what... why are you here? Why...