(Jack dashes in, essay in hand.)
_Jack_ Here it is, but don"t practice now.
_Maude_ (pacing the floor). "As a traveler, among the mighty mountains, fails to realize--to realize the heights to which he has climbed, so we, in Life"s dusty pathway, cannot estimate the distance we have--we have,--cannot estimate the distance we have--" There, I knew I didn"t know it! What shall I do?
_Jack_ (brilliantly). Open your ma.n.u.script.
(Katherine enters, with letters and small package.)
_Maude_ (unseeing, resumes). "Deep, deep are the mysteries of nature, infinite are--are--"
_Mrs. De S._ Maudie, here is a letter from Uncle John. (withholds package).
_Maude_ (drops essay). O, I wonder what he sent! Is this all!
_Mrs. De S._ Why, Maudie! Read it.
_Maude_ (tears it open; reads). "My dearest Niece: Hail to the happy day! "Way down here in South Africa, "mong monkeys and Boers, I feel the excitement. We don"t graduate down here, but we know people who do. Never, I know, has the house of De Smythe been so shaken. In honor thereof, I am sending a--a--" O, goodness, I can"t--"a diamond ring,"--a diamond! Hasn"t it come?
_Mrs. De S._ Does he say when?
_Maude_ (referring to the letter). He says "I am sending--" Katherine is such a stupy! (calls). Katherine--
_Mrs. De S._ Maybe this is it. (gives package).
(Katherine comes with pink roses.)
_Maude_ O, O. O.! Isn"t it a beauty! Jack, look!
_Jack_ (just glancing). Umph! Yes, I see.
_Maude_ Dear Uncle John! Everybody is so good! It"s bigger than _Valeria_"s. Must I wear gloves? I don"t care, I just won"t.
_Mrs. De S._ Your roses, Maudie.
_Maude_ O, your roses, Jack! They"re lovely!
_Jack_ (slowly). The red weren"t pretty, so I got pink. I hope you"ll--
_Maude_ (rapturously). I just love pink roses!
(Katherine comes in with a big package.)
_Maude_ (tearing away pink ribbons and tissue papers). "With Valeria"s dearest love." A bonbon dish! Isn"t it lovely! And violets on it!
_Jack_ (with a grimace). It will hold two pounds!
_Maude_ It isn"t a bit too big! If you won"t fill it--well, there are others. I"m forgetting my piece. "Deep, deep are the mysteries--"
_Jack_ Are you going to say it?
_Maude_ No, but I must really know it, you know, so I can look up often.
_Jack_ "O, I see clearly," said the blind man.
_Mrs. De S._ Dear, dear, this is just as if you were getting married!
(sinks into a chair; she has been examining the flowers). The presents and the flowers and the carriages and--and everything. O, suppose you were--suppose you were!
_Maude_ (with intense indignation). But I"m not! I"m graduating!
_Jack_ (disconsolately). I don"t think they"re much alike!
_Mrs. De S. But where is Papa?
_Jack_ As I came, I saw him at the drug store.
_Mrs. De S._ The drug store! Why in the world--oh, I remember now,--I sent him. We"ll never get off.
(Miss Hoppenh.o.e.r"s voice is heard from somewhere, "O Jennie!")
_Mrs. De S._ (rising and collecting things dropped). I wonder what"s happened now? I hope Papa isn"t killed! (hurries out).
_Maude_ (gazing at her ring). Aren"t my presents pretty?
_Jack_ Yes, but you are prettier.
_Maude_ (archly). Thank you, Mr. Hamilton, but aren"t you a little rash?
(holds roses to her face by way of contrast.)
_Jack_ (critically). No, I think not, on mature consideration. Your hair looks like gold--California gold, and those lovely lilies! Who gave you those lilies-of-the-valley? (suddenly).
_Maude_ (evasively). Why California gold?
_Jack_ O, it"s redder, and then, it is a native product. You"d be mad if I said antique gold.
_Maude_ But do you like antique gold better?
_Jack_ That isn"t the point. Who gave you those lilies?
_Maude_ Aren"t they dear?
_Jack_ (cruelly). Don"t know,--didn"t buy "em. Whose tribute are they?
_Maude_ "Tribute" sounds like a funeral.
_Jack_ (with awful meaning). There may be a funeral. Whose are they?
_Maude_ (demurely). Mine.