DICK.  That’s what I’ve come to do.

GEORGIANA.  Have you?

DICK. [Turns and faces GEORGIANA.] Our regiment is ordered off to the
Philippines.

GEORGIANA.  Your regiment?

DICK.  Yes.

GEORGIANA. [Breathless.] Who’s going?

DICK.  Who?  Why, we’re going, of course.

GEORGIANA.  All of you?

DICK.  Yes, all of us.  There are two insurrections on a couple of islands that must be put down, and they want some fresh men.

GEORGIANA.  But it will be awful warfare out there, won’t it, unfair, cruel, unlawful warfare?

DICK.  I suppose that’s what it’s likely to be with the natives until we teach them a thorough lesson on every one of the infernal islands.

GEORGIANA.  But—­

[Hesitates, rises; they are both in front of the table.

DICK.  But what?

GEORGIANA. [Pause.] But your business,—­how can you leave your office?

DICK.  There are plenty of people who’ll be only too glad to take on my clients.

GEORGIANA.  But when you come back?

DICK.  If the worst comes to the worst, I’ll have to begin all over again.

GEORGIANA.  No!  Don’t go—­Dick!  Don’t go!

DICK.  Why not?

GEORGIANA. [Humorously, to cover her emotion.] I don’t want any one else to get your clients.

DICK.  Oh, you were thinking of my career!  That’ll take care of itself if
I come back—­and if I don’t—­

GEORGIANA.  Please!

DICK.  They said we were a lot of dandies in the regiment, and that if it ever came to fighting, people’d see us back down!

GEORGIANA.  But need you all go?

DICK.  That’s the glory of it!  It’s fine, Georgy.  There isn’t a single man who’ll be left behind, not on any old excuse!

GEORGIANA.  Splendid!

DICK.  You do want me to go, then, don’t you?

GEORGIANA.  Yes, if it’s like that, I want you to go—­but—­I want you to come back, too!

[Almost breaking down.]

DICK.  Hello!  I believe you’re crying.

GEORGIANA.  I’m not!

DICK. [Tenderly, scarcely believing.] Do you care so much as that,
Georgy?

GEORGIANA. [Proudly.] Of course I care!

DICK.  It’s funny, isn’t it—­think how long we’ve known each other.

GEORGIANA. [Still with a choke and a tear.] I don’t see why it’s funny.

DICK.  What I mean is, we’re sentimental beasts—­we people.

GEORGIANA.  Thank you, I don’t care for the way you put it.

DICK. [Takes a long breath.] Well, I wish you joy, Georgiana.

GEORGIANA.  Much obliged.

DICK.  And good-by.

[Shakes hands.

GEORGIANA. [Rises.] Not now, for good.

DICK. [Laughing.] Oh, no, we aren’t off for ten days yet.  But I wanted to tell my old pal first.