Austin. Yes.
Jinny. What will you have, tragedy or comedy?
Austin. [Smiling.] Shall we begin with tragedy?
Jinny. All right.
Austin. [Continues to write.] So far I have been able to keep Jinny in absolute ignorance, but I fear the blow must fall upon her soon, and I dread to think of what she, too, will suffer. Help me to keep it from her as long as we can, won't you?
[Jinny comes back; she has changed her dress to a loose negligée gown, with a red turban on her head; she brings two sheets with her.
Jinny. Excuse me one minute while I set the stage! [Moving toward each other the big arm-chair and the sofa, she covers them with the sheets. Austin turns from his letter on the desk, to watch.] Uncle Tom's Cabin, Act Four! [She goes out only for a moment, and reënters, wearing a man's overcoat, with a pillow tied in the middle with a silk scarf, eyes, nose, and mouth made on it with a burnt match.] Eliza crossing the ice! Come, honey darling! [To the pillow.] Mammy'll save you from de wicked white man! [Jumping up on the sofa, and moving with the springs.] You ought to do the bloodhounds for me, Jack! Excuse me, but you look the part! [Austin watches her, not unamused, but without smiling.] Hold tight to Lize, honey, and don't be afeerd o' dat big black man over dah—dat's Uncle Tom. [Crossing to the arm-chair.] Don't be afeerd, honey; it's Lize dat's cuttin' de ice this time. [She throws the pillow away and drags off the two sheets.] Oh, I can see this is too serious for you!
[She starts singing a cakewalk and dances across the room until she reaches him, where she finishes.
Austin. Very good, Jinny! I'm sure we couldn't have seen better at the theatre.
Jinny. Ah! You're getting yourself again!—Darling! Come!—Come!—come to the pianola and you shall have the sextette! It's in there ready; I heard mother struggling with it. You don't suppose she has designs upon the Casino, do you? Now—ready?