Chapter V: Act IV: Scene I

_Dawn of the next day. At the rise of the curtain JINNY is by the open
window, whose curtains she has thrown aside. The sky is blood-red and
streaked with gold the moment before sunrise. JINNY is worn and
haggard, with hair dishevelled._

JINNY. [_Turning and leaning against the window._] Day at last! What a night--what a night--but now it's morning and he hasn't come back! He means it! And it's my own fault--it's my own fault! [_She shivers. She closes the window and comes away. After a moment's pause she goes deliberately and looks at the several gas fixtures in the room. She then closes all the doors and locks them. She carefully draws down the shade and closes in the curtains of the window. She hesitates, then pulls aside the curtains and the shade, and takes a long, last look at the dawn. She closes it all in again. She gets Austin's picture from the desk and places it on the table near the centre of the room. She then goes to the gas bracket at the Right and turns on the gas. She lights it to see if the gas is all right; then blows it out. She then crosses to the other bracket and turns that on; she goes to the chandelier at centre, and, mounting a chair, turns on its three jets. She then sits down by the table with AUSTIN'S picture before her, and looking into its eyes, her elbows on the table, her head in her hands, she waits._] Oh, Jack, my beloved! I couldn't help it--I never for one minute stopped loving you better than everything else in my life, but no more than I could stop loving you could I stop or help being jealous! Once the cruel idea has got hold of me it seems to _have_ to work its way out! Everything gets red before me and I don't seem to know what I say or do! It's no excuse, I know. I've got no excuse, only I _love_ you! You'll forgive me when I'm gone, won't you, Jack? You'll know I _loved_ you!--loved you so I couldn't _live_ without you!--loved you!--_loved_ you! [_She kisses the photograph tenderly, adoringly, slowly, in tears._] Loved--you--loved you!--loved--

[_Her head drops forward, as_

THE CURTAIN FALLS

SCENE II

_The same morning, three hours later. The curtain rises on the same
scene in a dull, cold, early morning light. The lamp has burnt itself
out. A tiny ray of sunlight steals through a slip between the
curtains. JINNY sits by the table, her arms spread over it and her
head on her arms--she is perfectly still. AUSTIN'S picture is before
her. There is a moment's silence. Voices are heard outside,
approaching door, at Right. Gradually what they say is distinguished._

MAGGIE. No, sir. She hasn't been to bed; I've been to her bedroom--that door's not unlocked.

TILLMAN. She's been here all night?

MAGGIE. Yes, sir. But twice in the night, sir, I came to the door and spoke to her and she wouldn't answer me--but I could hear her walking up and down and sometimes talking to herself.

TILLMAN. [_Calls softly._] Jinny! [_Knocks softly._] It's father! [_No answer._] It looks as if she were asleep now.

AUSTIN. [_At a little distance._] Father!

TILLMAN. I'm outside the library door.

AUSTIN. [_Nearer._] I can't wait--have you seen her? Will she see me?

TILLMAN. She's locked herself in here. She's not been to her own room.

AUSTIN. Not been to bed at all! Poor Jinny--God forgive me.

TILLMAN. Maggie says she's walked the floor all night.

[_He knocks on the door Right._

AUSTIN. [_Outside the door, Right, rather softly._] Jinny! I'm so sorry! I can't say how sorry! I've thought it out through the night, and I think I understand things better. [_He waits a moment for an answer._] Jinny, answer me! you shall be as jealous as you like, and I'll always explain and kiss away those doubts of yours, and I'll have no more secrets from you, dear. Not one! Jinny! [_As he calls there is a slight movement of one of JINNY'S arms. With a note of alarm._] Father! I can't hear a sound of breathing! [_A moment's pause as they listen._] She threatened it--she threatened it several times! [_With great determination._] We must get into this room--do you hear me--we must get in if we have to break the door down! [_They shake the door. He calls a little louder._] Jinny, Jinny darling--do you hear me? [_JINNY makes a sort of feeble effort to lift her head, but fails._] Jinny, for God's sake, answer me! I love you Jinny--_Jinny!_ [_Very slowly JINNY lifts her head and, with difficulty, she hears as if in a dream; she is dazed, barely alive._] She doesn't answer!

TILLMAN. See if the key is in the lock.

AUSTIN. No.

TILLMAN. Get the other keys, Maggie.

AUSTIN. _Father!_ Gas! Don't you smell it?

TILLMAN. What!

AUSTIN. Gas, I tell you! O God! she's killed herself! Jinny! Jinny!

[_Beating the door._

[_JINNY staggers up, she tries to call "Jack"--but the word only comes
out in a half-articulate whisper! She tries again, but fails._

MAGGIE. Here's a key, sir.

[_JINNY tries to go to the door; she staggers a few steps and then
falls._

[_They try one key--it does not unlock the door; they try another._

[_JINNY half raises herself and makes an effort to crawl, but is
unable and sinks back upon the floor._

AUSTIN. Break the door in, father! We daren't waste any more time!

TILLMAN. No, this has done it!

[_They open the door and rush in. They stop aghast at JINNY and the
oppressiveness of the gas in the room._

TILLMAN. Jinny!

AUSTIN. Quick--the window! [_TILLMAN tears aside the curtains and throws open the window. The sunshine of full morning pours in. He then rushes to the opposite gas burners and turns them off. Kneeling quickly beside her._] _Jinny! My wife!_ My beloved!

[_He takes her up in his arms and hurries to the window._

TILLMAN. Are we too late?

AUSTIN. I don't know. No! she's breathing--and see--see!--she knows me!--she knows me! [_JINNY smiles at him pathetically._] Send Maggie for the doctor!

[_TILLMAN goes out Right._

AUSTIN. Jinny, forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me! [_She slips her two arms up and joins them about his neck. AUSTIN kisses her._] Father! We've saved her! Oh, thank God, we've saved her!

[_Bringing her to big chair and putting her in it, he kneels at her
feet._

JINNY. [_Whispers faintly._] _Dear Jack!_ You forgive _me_--all my beastly jealousy?

AUSTIN. There's one thing stronger even than jealousy, my Jinny. And that's LOVE! That's _LOVE_!

[_He kisses her hands, and_

THE CURTAIN FALLS

* * * * *

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