_Reba_
Two--one--two, three----
(PHILO _goes to door and flings it open._)
_Philo_
Reba, go down!
(_She crosses to door, shuts it, and stands with her back against it._)
_Reba_
Not till we"ve had a talk, Philo. I"ve a right to it after what you said two years ago--when I went away to school. Have you forgotten it? Shall I tell you what you said?
_Philo_
No!
_Reba_
You said you loved me, Philo. And I believed it for two years. When I came back you were silent. I"ve tried to make you speak--I"ve got in your way--I"ve done everything nice girls don"t do--because--I love you as much as you love _that_! (_Waves her hand toward the machine._)
_Philo_
Don"t say it. It can"t be true. No woman could love so much as that.
(_Goes back to table._)
_Reba_ (_following him_)
I don"t ask you to love me. But let me come here and sit by you sometimes. I could be happy then--though I don"t _like_ to be still.
I was going to a dance to-night.
_Philo_
A dance!
_Reba_
But I knew you were up here alone--and I had heard--oh, my dear!--that they were going to send you away. I couldn"t bear it. I _had_ to come.
Oh, Philo, they shall not send you away! Dr. Seymour says all you need is a new interest.
_Philo_
To dance, perhaps!
_Reba_
Well--why not? It is fun. We were to be in fancy dress, and I was going as Night. See--(_waving her scarf_) this is my cloud--and my hair is the moon! I washed it to-day so it would be fluffy. Just see how soft it is!
_Philo_ (_touching her hair_)
How fine! Will you give me a lock, Reba?
_Reba_
Oh, yes! Where are your scissors? Here! (_Takes scissors from table._) You cut it, Philo. (_He takes scissors._) Anywhere. It"s curly at the neck and temples.
_Philo_ (_cutting lock_)
I don"t want a curl. (_Puts hair carefully in table drawer._) I"m making a new machine and I need long hairs for some of the parts.
_Reba_ (_raging_)
You sha"n"t have it! You sha"n"t!
(_Tries to open drawer. They struggle. She gets her arms about his neck._)
_Philo_ (_pushing her off_)
Your throat----
(_Kisses it. She clings to him, and he sits down, holding her on his knee._)
_Reba_
I knew! I knew! Oh, Philo, you _haven"t_ forgotten! You remember--everything!
_Philo_
Everything!
_Reba_
That day we went fishing and----
_Philo_ (_laughing_)
Forgot the tackle!
_Reba_
And that last evening in the orchard, when you said----
_Philo_
I love you!
_Reba_