FullReads

JULIA.
Help me, help me! Tell me only what I am to do–where I am to turn?

JEAN.
O Lord, if I only knew that myself!

JULIA.
I have been exasperated, I have been mad, but there ought to be some way of saving myself.

JEAN.
Stay right here and keep quiet. Nobody knows anything.

JULIA.
Impossible! The people know, and Christine knows.

JEAN.
They don’t know, and they would never believe it possible.

JULIA.
[Hesitating]

But-it might happen again.

JEAN.
That’s true.

JULIA.
And the results?

JEAN.
[Frightened]

The results! Where was my head when I didn’t think of that! Well, then there is only one thing to do–you must leave. At once! I can’t go with you, for then everything would be lost, so you must go alone–abroad–anywhere!

JULIA.
Alone? Where?–I can’t do it.

JEAN.
You must! And before the count gets back. If you stay, then you know what will happen. Once on the wrong path, one wants to keep on, as the harm is done anyhow. Then one grows more and more reckless–and at last it all comes out. So you must get away! Then you can write to the count and tell him everything, except that it was me. And he would never guess it. Nor do I think he would be very anxious to find out.

JULIA.
I’ll go if you come with me.

JEAN.
Are you stark mad, woman? Miss Julia to run away with her valet! It would be in the papers in another day, and the count could never survive it.

JULIA.
I can’t leave! I can’t stay! Help me! I am so tired, so fearfully tired. Give me orders! Set me going, for I can no longer think, no longer act—

JEAN.
Do you see now what good-for-nothings you are! Why do you strut and turn up your noses as if you were the lords of creation? Well, I am going to give you orders. Go up and dress. Get some travelling money, and then come back again.

JULIA.
[In an undertone]

Come up with me!

JEAN.
To your room? Now you’re crazy again! [Hesitates a moment] No, you must go at once! [Takes her by the hand and leads her out.]

JULIA.
[On her way out]

Can’t you speak kindly to me, Jean?

JEAN.
An order must always sound unkind. Now you can find out how it feels!

[JULIA goes out.]

[JEAN, alone, draws a sigh of relief; sits down at the table; takes out a note-book and a pencil; figures aloud from time to time; dumb play until CHRISTINE enters dressed for church; she has a false shirt front and a white tie in one of her hands.]

CHRISTINE.
Goodness gracious, how the place looks! What have you been up to anyhow?

JEAN.
Oh, it was Miss Julia who dragged in the people. Have you been sleeping so hard that you didn’t hear anything at all?

CHRISTINE.
I have been sleeping like a log.

JEAN.
And dressed for church already?

CHRISTINE.
Yes, didn’t you promise to come with me to communion to-day?

JEAN.
Oh, yes, I remember now. And there you’ve got the finery. Well, come on with it.

[Sits down; CHRISTINE helps him to put on the shirt front and the white tie.]

[Pause.]

JEAN.
[Sleepily]