Page:Harper's New Monthly Magazine - v109.djvu/982

of your love, and yet I might have been deceived, for my eyes are dim and my ears are dull. But seeing that [he points to the vase and picture], I am satisfied. Much may happen in a year's time, and yet nothing can really matter so long as you still possess the one thing—the greatest in all the world. May you keep it to the end. [He turns to go.] Now, then, I can find my way out alone. [He kisses Eve good-by.] Expect me next month, as usual. Have you my stick, Godfrey? Well, if you will come. Good-by, good-by.

[Mr. Rivers and Godfrey exit. Eve sits at table and begins mechanically to sew upon the glove. And then suddenly she rises and presses the glove to her lips.

[Godfrey, followed by Wallis, re-enters.

Godfrey (to Wallis). Tell William to wait; I shall dine at the club, after all.

[Wallis exit.

Godfrey (looking up and seeing Eve). Ah!

[Eve starts at the sound of his voice and ineffectually tries to conceal the glove, finally crumpling it up in her hand and facing him defiantly. Godfrey comes forward slowly.

Godfrey (in a low tone). You must give me that. I am sorry to be insistent, but so long as you bear my name—

Eve. I don't understand—

Godfrey (impatiently). The letter—Hemingway's letter. You have it in your hand.

[He extends his own to receive it. The door-bell rings sharply.

Eve. The letter!

[She glances over at the sewing-table, under which the letter is seen to be lying.

Godfrey (following her glance). Oh, I see. But then—[He steps quickly to her side, and holding her closely, he gently forces open the hand that holds the glove.] Eve!

Wallis (announcing). Mr. Hemingway.

[They start apart. Eve crosses and deliberately picks up the letter, which she reads. Wallis coughs discreetly.

Eve (looking up). You may say to Mr. Hemingway that Mrs. Effingham is not at home.

Wallis. I beg pardon, but Mr. Hemingway—

Godfrey (interrupting). Don't you understand? Not at home! [He follows Wallis to the door, speaking loudly.] Not at home! Not at home!

[Wallis exit. Godfrey comes down quickly and stands facing Eve for a moment in silence. The street door is heard to shut.

Eve (tossing the letter on the sewing-table). You might let me have that glove now.

[He hands it to her and proceeds to fill his pipe, while she sits and threads her needle.

Godfrey. I can't seem to find any matches. With your permission.

[He picks up the letter, twists it into a spill, and lights it at a candle.

Godfrey (puffing at his pipe). After all, a pipe is the most satisfying thing in the world.

[He drops the half-charred bit of paper and sets his heel upon it with a long sigh of relief.

Wallis (at door). The carriage is waiting, sir.

Godfrey. The carriage! How many times must I tell you that I don't want the carriage?

Wallis. Then you will dine—

Godfrey. At home, of course. It seems impossible, Wallis, for me to get that idea into your head. I shall dine at home to-night and to-morrow night and the one after that, and probably for the next thousand and one nights in uninterrupted succession. Is that quite plain?

Wallis. Yessir.

Godfrey. Then clear out.

[Wallis exit, and Godfrey crosses over and sits in reading-chair.

Godfrey (turning over the leaves of his book). Let me see. Book the Fourth—Oh yes; here we are. Ahem!

Eve (interrupting). Just one moment, Goff. To-morrow—

Godfrey. Yes, to-morrow—

Eve. We really must decide upon that dining-room paper. Now, then, if you are ready.

[Godfrey takes up his book and Eve her work. And then, as though moved by a common impulse, their eyes meet and silence falls.

THE CURTAIN.