Plays Part 38

AUNT ISABEL: Horace. (looking at her husband) I-I can't believe it.

HORACE: I could have squared it, even then, but for Madeline herself. I told the policeman that she didn't understand-that I was her cousin, and apologized for her. And she called over at me, 'Better apologize for yourself!' As if there was any sense to that-that she-she looked like a tiger. Honest, everybody was afraid of her. I kept right on trying to square it, told the cop she was the granddaughter of the man that founded the college-that you were her uncle-he would have gone off with just the Hindu, fixed this up later, but Madeline balled it up again-didn't care who was her uncle-Gee! (he throws open the window) There! You can see them, at the foot of the hill. A nice thing-member of our family led off to the police station!

FEJEVARY: (to the SENATOR) Will you excuse me?

AUNT ISABEL: (trying to return to the manner of pleasant social things) Senator Lewis will go on home with me, and you-(he is hurrying out) come when you can. (to the SENATOR) Madeline is such a high-spirited girl.

SENATOR: If she had no regard for the living, she might-on this day of all others-have considered her grandfather's memory.

(Raises his eyes to the picture of SILAS MORTON.)

HORACE: Gee! Wouldn't you say so?

(CURTAIN)

ACT III

SCENE: The same as Act II three hours later. PROFESSOR HOLDEN is seated at the table, books before him. He is a man in the fifties. At the moment his care-worn face is lighted by that lift of the spirit which sometimes rewards the scholar who has imaginative feeling. HARRY, a student clerk, comes hurrying in. Looks back.

HARRY: Here's Professor Holden, Mr Fejevary.

HOLDEN: Mr Fejevary is looking for me?

HARRY: Yes.

(He goes back, a moment later MR FEJEVARY enters. He has his hat, gloves, stick; seems tired and disturbed.)

HOLDEN: Was I mistaken? I thought our appointment was for five.

FEJEVARY: Quite right. But things have changed, so I wondered if I might have a little talk with you now.

HOLDEN: To be sure. (rising) Shall we go downstairs?

FEJEVARY: I don't know. Nice and quiet up here. (to HARRY, who is now pa.s.sing through) Harry, the library is closed now, is it?

HARRY: Yes, it's locked.

FEJEVARY: And there's no one in here?

HARRY: No, I've been all through.

FEJEVARY: There's a committee downstairs. Oh, this is a terrible day. (putting his things on the table) We'd better stay up here. Harry, when my niece-when Miss Morton arrives-I want you to come and let me know. Ask her not to leave the building without seeing me.

HARRY: Yes, sir. (he goes out)

FEJEVARY: Well, (wearily) it's been a day. Not the day I was looking for.

HOLDEN: No.

FEJEVARY: You're very serene up here.

HOLDEN: Yes, I wanted to be-serene for a little while.

FEJEVARY: (looking at the books) Emerson. Whitman. (with a smile) Have they anything new to say on economics?

HOLDEN: Perhaps not; but I wanted to forget economics for a time. I came up here by myself to try and celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Morton College. (answering the other man's look) Yes, I confess I've been disappointed in the anniversary. As I left Memorial Hall after the exercises this morning, Emerson's words came into my mind-

'Give me truth, For I am tired of surfaces And die of inanition.'

Well, then I went home-(stops, troubled)

FEJEVARY: How is Mrs Holden?

HOLDEN: Better, thank you, but-not strong.

FEJEVARY: She needs the very best of care for a time, doesn't she?

HOLDEN: Yes. (silent a moment) Then, this is something more than the fortieth anniversary, you know. It's the first of the month.

FEJEVARY: And illness hasn't reduced the bills?

HOLDEN: (shaking his head) I didn't want this day to go like that; so I came up here to try and touch what used to be here.

FEJEVARY: But you speak despondently of us. And there's been such a fine note of optimism in the exercises. (speaks with the heartiness of one who would keep himself a.s.sured)

HOLDEN: I didn't seem to want a fine note of optimism. (with roughness) I wanted-a gleam from reality.

FEJEVARY: To me this is reality-the robust spirit created by all these young people.

HOLDEN: Do you think it is robust? (hand affectionately on the book before him) I've been reading Whitman.

FEJEVARY: This day has to be itself. Certain things go-others come; life is change.

HOLDEN: Perhaps it's myself I'm discouraged with. Do you remember the tenth anniversary of the founding of Morton College.

FEJEVARY: The tenth? Oh yes, that was when this library was opened.

HOLDEN: I shall never forget your father, Mr Fejevary, as he stood out there and said the few words which gave these books to the students. Not many books, but he seemed to baptize them in the very spirit from which books are born.

FEJEVARY: He died the following year.

HOLDEN: One felt death near. But that didn't seem the important thing. A student who had fought for liberty for mind. Of course his face would be sensitive. You must be very proud of your heritage.

FEJEVARY: Yes. (a little testily) Well, I have certainly worked for the college. I'm doing my best now to keep it a part of these times.

HOLDEN: (as if this has not reached him) It was later that same afternoon I talked with Silas Morton. We stood at this window and looked out over the valley to the lower hill that was his home. He told me how from that hill he had for years looked up to this one, and why there had to be a college here. I never felt America as that old farmer made me feel it.

FEJEVARY: (drawn by this, then s.h.i.+fting in irritation because he is drawn) I'm sorry to break in with practical things, but alas, I am a practical man-forced to be. I too have made a fight-though the fight to finance never appears an idealistic one. But I'm deep in that now, and I must have a little help; at least, I must not have-stumbling-blocks.