Jinny. Oh!—You may wait outside for the answer, Maggie.
Maggie. Yes, m'm.
[She goes out.
Jinny. [Slowly goes to Austin and gives him the letter, lightly.] I see now why you were so anxious to let Maggie in. Perhaps you were expecting this.
Austin. Jinny! [Holding her by the hand and trying to pull her over to him.] Come, I'll give you a kiss for the letter.
Jinny. No, thank you, I don't want kisses that are given by you for letters from Ruth Chester. Yes! do kiss me! [He kisses her.] I won't be jealous! I won't be! [Clinching her teeth.] See, I'm not jealous a bit! Read your old letter!
[Austin opens the note and reads it. As he does so Jinny has passed on to the desk and sees Austin's unfinished letter to Ruth, which after a little hesitation she picks up and reads. Austin, having read Ruth's note, looks up thoughtfully a second, and then re-reads it. Jinny is furious over what she reads. As she finishes she gives a little cry from the very depths of her heart.
Jinny. Oh, Jack!
Austin. What is it?
Jinny. Nothing!