Her Own Way eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 117 pages of information about Her Own Way.

Her Own Way eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 117 pages of information about Her Own Way.

COAST. Smart old girl!

GEORGIANA.  She’s all the happier for being silly, and she’s a good soul and does her best!  What’s your news, Steve?

[Turning to STEVEN.

STEVEN.  Sam, would you mind?

[Motions to COAST to leave the room.

COAST. Oh, no! [Rises.] See you later!  I’ll go and take a squint at auntie.

[He goes out Right.

GEORGIANA.  Steve, you look troubled—­what’s gone wrong?

[She goes to STEVEN on the sofa and sits beside him.

STEVEN. I have!

GEORGIANA.  How do you mean?  You and Louise haven’t quarrelled?

STEVEN.  If it was only that!

GEORGIANA.  What then?

STEVEN.  I’ve gone wrong, I tell you, all wrong.

GEORGIANA.  How?  In what way, Steve?

STEVEN.  Your money’s lost, it’s all lost.

[GEORGIANA rises.  A pause.

GEORGIANA.  How do you mean?

STEVEN.  And that isn’t the worst of it, either.  I’ve broken my word to you!  I know I’ve killed your faith in me.  I’ve lost faith in myself.

GEORGIANA. [Still standing, very strong.] Steve!

STEVEN.  I’ve speculated!

GEORGIANA. No, Steve!

STEVEN. [Rises and goes to the mantel.] Yes, I’ve been speculating since the very day I said I wouldn’t.  I won a lot at first, and of course I thought I’d get all back; and then, of course, what I did get back was my old cursed luck!

GEORGIANA.  Oh, Steve!  And I believed in you so thoroughly, I never had a doubt!

STEVEN.  I know it!  I know it!  I’m rotten all through, Georgy. [Bursting into tears.] I’m not worth being forgiven—­[He falls on his knees, in a paroxysm of sobs and tears.] I’m rotten!  Oh—­I’m rotten—­

[He sobs uncontrollably.

[GEORGIANA watches him a little while in silence.  Then she goes to him and puts her hand on his shoulder.

GEORGIANA.  Steve!

STEVEN. [Sobbing.] Yes!

GEORGIANA.  I forgive you!

STEVEN.  No!  No!

GEORGIANA.  And I’ll trust you again if I have a chance.

STEVEN. [Looking up.] Georgy, what do you mean?

[Beginning to control his sobs.

GEORGIANA.  I mean, though it’s been a pretty big blow, my faith in you isn’t altogether gone yet.

STEVEN.  Oh, I can’t bear it!  I can’t bear it!  But you don’t mean it!  No, you can’t mean it!  How could you?  Forgive me?  Trust me again?  No, no!  You couldn’t—­it’s all over!  I’ve thrown away my own money first, then my wife’s and her mother’s—­that ought to have been enough,—­but I had to go and break my word of honor to you, and lose every penny of yours!  There’s no excuse for me, nor reason to forgive.

GEORGIANA. [After a moment, very quietly, with her eyes filling.]
There’s love, Steve!

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Her Own Way from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.