Her Own Way Part 22

COAST. Do you think if she was up a tree for funds she'd look at me any kinder?

STEVEN. Not a bit.

COAST. Some women do.

STEVEN. Not Georgiana! Good-by.

COAST. [_To_ STEVE.] So long.

[STEVEN _turns to go, but stops as_ MOLES _shows_ COLEMAN _into the room. The latter is dressed in his uniform of first lieutenant._

d.i.c.k. h.e.l.lo, Steven! h.e.l.lo, Coast!

COAST. We gates!

STEVEN. How are you, d.i.c.k? Excuse me, I'm in a hurry. You're off to-day?

d.i.c.k. Yes, I've come to shake hands.

STEVEN. Good-by, old man, and good luck--sorry to have to go! Good-by!

[_Shakes hands warmly, with feeling._

d.i.c.k. Good-by.

[STEVEN _goes out Left._

COAST. [_Sitting Right._] Oh, I guess she ain't so different.

d.i.c.k. Who?

COAST. Georgiana, she's _just a woman_!

d.i.c.k. No, take my word for it, she's not _a_ woman, she's _the_ woman.

[_Sits on the piano bench._

COAST. 'Spose she likes money and nice things always about her?

d.i.c.k. She's always had them,--and always would if I could help give them to her.

COAST. Huh, huh! Well--say, Steve's got himself in a devil of a hole!

Speculated with his wife's money--and they're broke.

d.i.c.k. Good G.o.d, what do you mean?

[_Rises._

COAST. What I say. Steve is one of those good-hearted gulls who's a blame slob on the money market, and he's gone under to the extent of Aunt Laura's and Louise's _spondulix_, that's all.

[_He is rather amused._ d.i.c.k _goes back of table, puts his hat on it._

d.i.c.k. What are they going to do?

COAST. Georgiana wants to pony up like a brick and keep the whole lot!

d.i.c.k. Just like her!

COAST. Oh, of course, I'll see Georgiana don't really lose by it in no way in the end.

d.i.c.k. You _will_?

COAST. Why of course!

d.i.c.k. She isn't going to let Steve speculate with her money, is she?

COAST. Can't say.

[_A pause._

d.i.c.k. Look here, I'd like to help Steve myself, if I thought I could protect Georgiana. I'll let Steve have some money. You needn't say anything to anybody. How much will see him through?

COAST. That's real good of you, but I couldn't let outsiders help 'em.

d.i.c.k. I'm not exactly an outsider; and the truth is, Coast, I'd give anything to have the right to help Georgiana. [_A silence._] Look here.

I'm going to ask you a question, straight out!

COAST. Fire ahead!

[_Looks at_ d.i.c.k _with a perfectly blank face._

d.i.c.k. Anything between you and Georgiana?

COAST. [_After a short pause._] There is--

d.i.c.k. Mrs. Carley hinted as much.

COAST. [_Unflinchingly._] I'm--er--I'm going to marry Georgiana.

[_A pause._ COAST _looks_ d.i.c.k _in the eye, then away._

d.i.c.k. Congratulate you, Coast! [_Shakes his hand._] She's worth even more than you can give her!

COAST. That's right!

[COAST _goes out on the balcony and whistles "Congo."_ d.i.c.k _walks away and turns his back._ d.i.c.k _goes to the mantel and takes up a picture of_ GEORGIANA, _looks at it, takes it out of the frame, and seeing that_ COAST _isn't observing, puts it in his breast pocket. He turns round with a pathetic sort of half-laughing exclamation to_ COAST.

d.i.c.k. I say, Coast. [COAST _comes in from the balcony._] I've been in love with Georgiana for years.