_Jack._ When was it? To-night?
_Dolly._ This wasn"t the first time. But it was always for Belle.
_Jack (in a whisper)._ For Belle!
_Dolly._ I"ve worked till I was ready to drop. I"ve slaved day and night--but I couldn"t make enough. And so, every now and then, I"d go to a house.
_Jack._ When did it begin!
_Dolly._ Nearly a year ago.
_Jack._ Belle has never guessed it?
_Dolly._ Good G.o.d! She would kill herself! Listen--I"ll tell you the story. What does it matter now--you"ll never see me again. It began in a department store--twelve dollars a week. Fine wages, with two to care for! It was slave--slave all day. Never a holiday, never a joy; nothing beautiful, nothing new! No hope, no future; just slave--slave! And there was a young man--what they call a gentleman.
He took me to dinners, and I went, because I was near starving. In the end he got me, of course. And then he threw me over, and I went to work again. You see?
_Jack._ I see.
_Dolly._ After that it was worse. I was spoiled. But I was afraid Belle might suspect, so I kept straight for a long time. But it was no go. She was working herself to death--and I"d see her ill, and I couldn"t stand it. I"d tell her I had a job in a hotel uptown. I"d be gone all night--and I"d bring her money. That"s my life!
_Jack (in a low voice)._ Are there many like that?
_Dolly._ The town is full of them. I know a girl who went to a church home. They said they couldn"t help her--they were for "fallen women." She came back again and told them they could help her now--she was a fallen woman.
_Jack._ G.o.d!
_Dolly._ She was starving, that was what drove her. That"s what drives thousands. And for that we"re despised. The good women--they spit upon us! I sometimes wonder--do they think we like it? _(Laughs harshly.)_ That a woman should like to give herself to any brute that comes along! _(Seizing Jack by the arm.)_ Tell me! What does it mean? Whose sins do we pay for?
_Jack._ I don"t know.
_Dolly._ If there"s a G.o.d in heaven, how can he allow it? How can he allow some to be idle and rich, and to despise us who have nothing?
_Jack._ Tell me about to-night.
_Dolly._ I went to the old place. And there was a man--he was drunk, and he"d lost his money, and he said I"d robbed him. A servant gave me the tip--the madam had sent for the police. I dodged out by the bas.e.m.e.nt way.
_Jack._ And they"re after you?
_Dolly._ The man"s a politician--some big man--and so they"ll hunt me out. I"m a stranger, I"ve no friends, and they"ll send me up for a year or two. I wouldn"t care; I"m rotten--fit for nothing but the dump-heap. But there"s Belle. She"s straight, and I must keep her straight.
_Jack._ Yes, Dolly, we"ll keep her straight.
_Dolly._ I never thought I"d trust another man, Jack. But I think you"re decent. Mark this though! _(Fiercely.)_ By the G.o.d above, if you ever do Belle any harm, Jack, I"ll shoot you dead!
_Jack._ Dolly! Why talk to me that way? I love her. I"ve told her that I love her.
_Dolly._ You mean to marry her?
_Jack._ Of course.
_Dolly (seizes his hand)._ Jack! And you"ll be good to her? _(Turns quickly, without waiting for answer.)_ We must get away from here!
_Jack._ Wait! Let me think. I know a place where they"ll never find us.
_Dolly._ Where is it?
_Jack._ I"ll take you to it. Get Belle ready.
_Dolly._ You"re sure it"s safe?
_Jack._ Absolutely. It might as well be in another world. _(Dolly runs off Right to Belle. He paces the room, talking to himself.)_ I"ve got to give it up. I can"t play with things like this. I"ve lost, I"ll take my medicine. Only a month! Gee whiz! _(With sudden realization.)_ Good-bye to my quarter of a million!
_Bill (appears in doorway, yawning)._ Holy smoke! What"s up?
_Jack._ We"re going away.
_Bill._ Where to?
_Jack._ I can"t tell you now.
_Dolly (enters Right, supporting Belle)._ Come on, dear. Jack is going to take us with him.
_Belle._ But I"m too sick to go out.
_Dolly._ You must, dear.
_Belle._ I"m not dressed.
_Jack._ Get her hat and coat. Don"t stop for anything else. Come on, Belle, I"ll help you. We"ve no time to lose. _(Puts arm about her and half carries her Left.)_
_Belle._ Won"t you tell me what"s the matter?
_Jack._ I"m going to take you to some friends. _(To Dolly.)_ We"ll find a cab.
_Dolly._ No, they"d trace us!
_Jack._ Well, we can get to the subway, I suppose. _(To Belle.)_ Dearest Belle--listen to me. I love you. And I"m going to make you well. I"ve been able to get money--all we need, heaps and heaps of it. And you"re going to Florida. You"ll be there in a few days--the very place my sister went to. Perhaps she"ll go with you. So come!
Come! _(Exit, leading Belle.)_
_Dolly (hurries about, gathering Belle"s wraps and her own)._ Where"s your coat, boy?
_Bill._ Ain"t got none. Say! What"s this about Florida?
_Dolly._ I don"t know.
_Bill._ Youse tryin" to cheer up Belle?
_Dolly (gathering up her belongings in great haste)._ Maybe so.