More Portmanteau Plays Part 32

[_He rises and crosses to the far side of the centre arch._

SHE (_drawing her scarf about her and brus.h.i.+ng against him as she pa.s.ses._)

Excuse me, please.

HE (_torrentially_)

You shall not go. You _shall_ listen to me. You have no right to treat me as a plaything when I love you so! I love you so! I love you so! I think of you all day long, I lie awake at night wondering what stars are looking upon you and I find myself envying them--every one of them.

[_She tries to speak, but he presses her head against his shoulder._

I won't listen. You must hear me out. I've waited days and days and days for this chance to speak to you, and you've trailed me about like--like--like a poodle. I'm tired of it because I love you so.

[_She tries to speak again; but succeeds only in mussing her hair._

HE

I want you to marry me, and marry me you shall if I have to carry you away with me. Oh, Genevieve, my darling Genevieve, just know that for this moment I am almost completely happy. You are close to me and I do not feel any struggle against me. Oh, if you will only listen to me, I do not mean to be brutal. I have torn your dress. I have mussed your precious hair.

But I love you so! I love you so!

SHE

Oh, Henry--Henry--You are so wonderful!

[_They embrace one long moment when an arm comes out between the curtains and tugs at his coat._

_He lets go of her as though he had been shot, turns and sees the naked arm and the top of the Boy's head._

BOY (_whispering_)

Get her out of here!

SHE

Oh, Henry, Henry, have I been cruel to you?

HE (_constrained_)

We'd better go.

SHE (_looks questioningly at him_)

Please let's stay here.

[_He presses her head against his breast and looks surrept.i.tiously at the curtains._

_The Boy makes as though to get out._

_He starts violently--shoves the Boy back._

SHE

I saw you first--do you remember--at Poughkeepsie.

HE

Yes, yes--

SHE

I think--I liked you then.... But I never thought you'd be so wonderful.

HE

Let's go (_whispering_). Darling, let's go.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VERY NAKED BOY]

SHE

No, I want to stay here. I love this nook.

[_He laughs nervously as she crosses to the curtains._

I should love to fill it full of great tall lilies.

[_By this time she has become lyric and swept her arms against the curtains: with a cry, rus.h.i.+ng to him for protection._

Henry, there's a man behind those curtains!

HE

I think we'd better go.

SHE

Oh, Henry, you're not going to leave him here.

HE

We'd better.

BOY [_poking his head and a naked arm through the curtains._

Yes, you'd better, because I'm going to get out of here.

SHE