Chapter III: Part 3

Hughie, you’re crazy. I don’t want you to go home to Annabelle. I never supposed you’d go off half-cock like this. I don’t want you to go. I just want you to—to stop talking about food while I’m studying my parts. It’s a beautiful play, Hugh. I die in the last act and I say such lovely things! You’ve no idea what lovely things, and then you interrupt me talking about supper when there’s plenty of chocolate-cake right there! If you’d just be a little more romantic, Hugh. Don’t you see what I mean?

[_HUGH looks still more frightened and puzzled. He clutches his
forehead._]

HUGH.

[_Gathering himself together._]

Now, Gladys, listen. Let us have a clear understanding. You know I’d do anything in the world for you, but if I stopped playing the piano while you learned your parts, and while you slept, which is all morning long, why, there’d never be any time to play at all. Do be reasonable. Don’t you see what I mean? [_At his own last words the frightened look comes into his face again._]

GLADYS.

[_Who has stalked up stage and folded her arms while he has
been speaking._]

Yes, I do see, and what I see is that you have no imagination. You had better go home to Annabelle. We are not mates. Good-bye.

[_HUGH makes a wild clutch at his head with both hands and
flees, presumably to ANNABELLE. GLADYS stands with her mouth
open as the curtain falls._]

CURTAIN.

FOOTNOTES

[1] After Wm. McGinn.

[2] The play, “Diritti dell Anima,” translated by Edith and Allan Updegraff under the title “Sacred Ground,” is published by Mitchell Kennerley, New York, in the Modern Drama series. Application to Edwin Bjorkman through the publishers should be made for permission to give a dramatic presentation.

[3] From _The Century_, March, 1914.