More Portmanteau Plays Part 64

SUSAN (_to Jonathan_)

Come on and sing it.

[_Jonathan is not sure of the status of Albert Peet._

[_Susan plays and she and Jonathan sing with great feeling._

ALBERT [_looking at his watch_

Well, all this is very pleasant indeed, but we'll have to go, Susan dear.

[_At the "Susan, dear" Jonathan turns quickly and sees the two holding hands. Susan holds up her left hand and shows an engagement ring on it.

Jonathan is utterly crushed._

JONATHAN

I think I'd better say good-bye.

[_He takes up his cap._

SUSAN

Good-bye. If you see Jonathan, tell him I'm going to marry Albert Peet.

He'll know.

ALBERT

Good-bye.

[_Albert and Susan walk off happily in the suns.h.i.+ne._

_Jonathan looks after them._

_Mlle. Perrault enters followed by Mary and John 3rd. Mlle. Perrault's dress is almost like the one she had worn when she first met Jonathan in the lumber-room, except that the colors are reversed and more brilliant.

Mary is a lovely little yellow-haired child of ten and John 3rd is a stoical matter-of-fact boy of eight. The two children are evidently very fond of Mlle. Perrault, as fond as Jonathan and Susan had seemed. If the children seem thoughtless and cruel, it is because they are children and life has not yet laid a hard hand upon them. The sun rays are very low against the wall now so that anyone walking near it will cast a very heavy shadow._

MARY

John, look--he's a hunchback.

MLLE. PERRAULT

's.h.!.+ Children.

[_The children whisper._

_Jonathan turns and seeing Mlle. Perrault smiles._

How do you do, little man.

JONATHAN

I am well, I thank you.

MLLE. PERRAULT

What are you doing here?

JONATHAN

I am with Hank.

MLLE. PERRAULT

Hank?

JONATHAN

Yes, Hank's my pal. There he is--asleep.

MLLE. PERRAULT

Oh, what a dreadful person.... Children, don't go near him.

JONATHAN

He's not so bad.

MLLE. PERRAULT

But he is a vagrant--a tramp. Why does he do nothing?

JONATHAN

He's happier that way.

MLLE. PERRAULT

Are you his son?

JONATHAN

Oh, no.

MLLE. PERRAULT

Where is your mother?