_Mrs. De S._ There"s no hurry, child.
_Jack_ That pace would kill!
_Miss R._ (to Professor Grindem). Her voice is not deep enough. It lacks impressiveness.
_Grindem_ Yes, it lacks power--power, I should say.
_Maude_ (near tears). I can"t get a new voice for this old essay!
_Miss H._ Yes, you ought to; you ought to be made over if you"re going to graduate!
_Mrs. De S._ Do go on; I am very fond of the next part.
_Maude_ (continues). "We stand upon the brink--"
_Miss R._ More rapidly there, "We stand upon the brink!"
_Maude_ (in exact imitation). "We stand upon the brink."
_Jack_ (ditto). That is, if we don"t fall off--
_Maude_ Make Jack be still or I--I--can"t!
_Jack_ Beg your pardon, but really, "a brink," you know.
_Maude_ "We stand upon the brink--who can guess what say the dashing waters beneath? Who can interpret the silence of the eternal stars? We rest in the walley--valley, who can understand the whispering of the leaves? Who can read the secrets of the ocean blue? O, deep are the inner meanings,--deep, deep are the mysteries of nature, infinite are the suggestions of life!"
_Grindem_ Too, rapidly, Miss Maude,--too rapidly. Those are grand sentiments,--give "em time--give "em time.
_Miss R._ There is not enough emotion in the climax: "Deep, deep are the mysteries of nature!" Read it (in a cellerage tone). "Deep, deep are the mysteries of nature!"
_Maude_ (using the "vox humana stop"). "Deep, deep are the mysteries of nature!"
_Mrs. De S._ (soothingly). You are not doing so well, Maudie, today.
_Miss H._ No, I think you get worse.
_Maude_ n.o.body c-could! You all find fault. (weeps). You couldn"t do any better--none of you--so there now!
_Miss H._ Never mind! It doesn"t matter. Don"t graduate.
_Maude_ (still weeping). It does matter! It d-does! I don"t want to disgrace the family.
_Miss H._ Ought to have commenced sooner, then, if you didn"t!
_Voice from without._ Who"s going to disgrace the family? I"d like to see "em try it.
(As Mr. De Smythe appears, Professor Grindem and Jack go out, in deep converse.)
_Maude_ I am!
_Mr. De S._ Oh, no, you"re not,--not by the R.I.P. Railroad!
(cheerfully). You won"t be permitted to, Miss! Doesn"t the dress fit?
_Maude_ (with intense scorn). The dress! Oh, Papa, my piece!
_Mr. De S._ O, you"re piece! Say it to me! I haven"t heard it today.
_Maude_ You"re making fun of me!
_Miss H._ The child is worn out.
_Maude_ I am not worn out! I am not a baby! (collapses). I wish I was d-d-dead!
_Mrs. De S._ O dear! O dear! Maudie, child!
_Maude_ I just w-wish I was.
_Mr. De S._ W-h-y-ee! When I have brought you your present! I am astonished!
_Maude_ Have you? Oh, Papa, have you? Let me see!
_Mr. De S._ (taking out of his pocket a tiny case). No more tears?
_Maude_ (rubbing eyes hard). No--never.
_Mr. De S._ Honest? I"ve never seen so many tears. We are a Johnstown flood lately. (Gives jeweler"s case.)
_Maude_ A watch! A w-a-t-c-h!! (flies at him).
(Re-enter Jack and Mr. Bulbus.)
_Mr. Bulbus._ (bows awkwardly). I come to see about them decorations.
_Maude_ (rapturously). A watch!
_Mr. De S._ Guess we don"t need "em, Mr. Bulbus. There is something going on at the school that night.
_Maude_ I was afraid it would be books. (She and Jack examine the watch aside.)
_Mrs. De S._ We might have a reception.
_Miss H._ Jennie, you"ll be sick! Mark my words, you"ll have an attack!
_Mrs. De S._ But it"s so nearly over--
_Mr. De S._ Ought we to have one? Does everybody?
_Miss H._ (sarcastically). Does everybody have what? Have an attack?