The record-union., 1899-11-05
THE PRIDE Of TWO.

u
Frampton, Miss Phyllis Gay, q Maid
Scene The Framptonss Flat. London.
Mrs. r and nd Mss q. discovered seated
in front fireplace center Small wicker
table, with tea things, beside Mrs; F
Right center, d,yan. cushions. etc &C. Flow
ers on table, riding crop, ETC., ETC.
| Mrs. F. latter pause)-But,s Phyi,
you must marry him. He's made Tor
you. He has all the qualities that go
| to make the perfect husband; and ne
adores you.
Phyllis-And 1 only-like him. / am
| a poor specimen of the girl OF the
period, I am. 1 ought to be content
to like him. This desire for love is old
fashioned, absurd. 81
Mrs. F. thoughtfully)-No, of course
Il couldn't have married without low
Toned, anyway.
Phyllis (starting slightly)-Yes, l sup
pose So
Mrs F. latter another long pause.
gently)-I often think, Phyl, that you
have had love affair that has hurt
you and made you cynical. l dont
| want to force your confidence, dear,
but I am your old friend, and II It'll
| you
Phyllis (evasively) = No = no = =
| Cbreaks Off abruptly.
Mrs. FL wish you could, Phyl dear.
It's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. You change
So (Softly, and talking very earnest
| ly) Before I knew Don l was just d
light, happy, careless girl, and l never
thought of life as a serious thing.
didn't know how to take myself seri-
ously. And then he came into it, ana
everything took on a new aspect LOT
me. l began to trust. And with that
came a wonderful feeling of safeguard.
1 couldn't do without it now. 1t means
too much for me.
Phyllis (absently)-Yes, I suppose so.
Mrs. F.-Girls think they live. They
| can't imagine how different their lives
become the day they meet the man
| they love. Before they are narrow, ana
afterward their horizon broadens out
and all that they saw before with shut
eyes becomes clear. They get more
| forgiving; they are better able to con-
done faults they looked upon as crimes
before.
Phyllis Slowly and deliberately
Suppose a woman had cared for your
/
help it, and you knew it-could you
forgive that?
Mrs. F. hesitatingly)-Even that
think 1 could forgive. don't know; L
should pity her.
| phyllis gets up and moves across
| the ROOM touching the odds and ends
on the mantelshelf aimlessly and nerv'
ously Places one foot on the fender
and leans on mantelboard; then turns
sowly.)
Phyllis las though contemplating
something in her mind)-Its good OF
you to care about me, Edith = you
were right did once care for some
one.
Mrs. F. (gently)-My dear, you care
for him still.
Phyllis (hopelessly)-Yes, I care for
him still I've were parted. l sup
! pose he didn't care.
Mrs. F. (eagerly)-But now we must
| do something to make it come right.
I'll help you
Phyllis Laughing Historically = You
can't you know. It's too late. He's
married, and I'm going to be-to Sir
Herbert Cray, 1 suppose. with a re-
turn to her old manner) Forget about
this, Edith. l am nervous to-day, and
foolish. I think I'll go home.
Mrs. F.-No, no. no; wait. Don will
be disappointed not to have seen you
Stay moment longer. He'll be IN
every minute now Goes over to man.
tel, and puts her arm around Phyllis)
Poor Phyl. Poor Phyl. I'm so sorry.
Phyllis Qaughing)-Don't be sorry,
modern woman, with no heart to speak
of and no conscience, and sentiment
should have no part or place in my
life. 1 have it in my power to marry
one of the most eligible young men of
the season. What more can 1 ask?
must forget my fancy for a man who
did not care much for me, or he
wouldn't have married another woman
that's certain.
Mrs. Poor Phyl. Poor Phyl!
Phyllis (fiercely)-No. Don't pity me.
I won't have your pity. I've told you
/ don't need or deserve it. / am very
happy My gown is veritable Gre
ation-what more
Mrs. F. Gnterrupting)-Do talk like
that. It's not -it's-something
strained. Don't do it. Why do you
do it?
Phyllis (wearily)-Why do I do it?
I don't know. 1 suppose it's my tenn
permanent. It's a very different one
to yours you know 1 couldn't forgive
a woman, for instance, who had ever
in any way came between me and the
man l loved.
Mrs F. (houghtfully)-Ah! my dear,
you'll come to that. Like all young
girls, you are hard now.
Phyllis-Yes; I'm hard Qaughs). That
is what Sir Herbert says. But I've
been made hard. (Turns her head away
from Mrs. F., and looks into fireplace
thoughtfully with a curious expression
in her eyes. Then looks up SUDDENLY
Suppose you had been terribly-what
you call in love with man, and he
with you. Suppose you had been en-
gagged. (Mrs. F. looks at her sympa
thetically) Yes, you see = l was the
girl l was younger than l am now.
and / knew less of the world, and of
men and the sort of things men did,
and-and I cared very much. We had
been engaged four months, and very
good friend of his and of mine, man,
was with US great deal at the time.
He happened to be such a good friend
of mine that he wouldn't let me marry
a man not worthy of me, even though
that man happened to be his best
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