Asher. Stand aside, Minnie, I’ll take care of him.
(Augusta cries out. Asher
advances, seizes Minnie by the shoulder
and thrusts her aside. Prag
has the pistol levelled at him.)
Prag. Recognize the unions, or I shoot!
Asher. Lower that pistol! Do you think you can intimidate me?
Prag. They can hang me,—I die for freedoms!
(He is apparently about to pull the trigger, but he does not. His eyes are drawn away from Asher, toward the doorway, lower right, where Dr. Jonathan is seen standing, gazing at him. Gradually his arm drops to his side, and Dr. Jonathan goes up to him and takes the pistol from his hand. Prag breaks down, sobbing violently.)
It is no good! I can’t—now.
Dr. Jonathan (his hand on Prag’s shoulder). Come with me, Prag, to my house.
(He leads Prag, shaken by sobs,
out of the doorway, upper right,
and they are seen through the windows
crossing the lawn and
disappearing.)
Augusta. Oh, Asher!
(She goes up to him and puts her
hand on his arm, and then turns to
Minnie.)
You saved him
Minnie. Dr. Jonathan saved him. He’d save everybody, if they’d let him. Ever since he took care of Prag’s wife, when she died, he’s got him hypnotized.
Asher. You’ve done a brave thing, Minnie. I shan’t forget it.
Minnie. I want you to forget it. I wouldn’t like to see anybody hurt.
Augusta. But—how did you happen to be here—in Foxon Falls?
Minnie. Oh, I didn’t mean to come back. I’m going away again.
Augusta. I have no right to ask you to go away, now.
Asher. What’s this? Did you ask Minnie to leave Foxon Falls?
Augusta. Asher, I’d like to talk with Minnie, if you don’t mind.
Asher (glancing at the two women). Well, I shan’t forget what you’ve done, Minnie.
(He goes out, lower right.)
Minnie (who is on the verge of losing her self-control). I didn’t come back to Foxon Falls to talk to you again, Mrs. Pindar. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go.
Augusta. Where?
Minnie. You didn’t care yesterday—why should you care today?
Augusta (with an effort). I ought to tell you that Dr. Pindar has declined Mr. Pindar’s offer.
Minnie. He isn’t going to take charge of the hospital?
Augusta. No.
Minnie. But if he’s so poor, how’s he going to live? He can’t afford to hire me to help him.
Augusta. I don’t know. Dr. Pindar was about to leave in search of you.
Minnie. I was afraid of that—when he ought to be going to New York to test the discovery at the hospitals there. He meant to.