Jinny. Oh, you can lie, too, can you? I won't keep you waiting long! You've stolen my husband from me—take him. I won't share him with any woman! He's yours now, and I'll soon be out of your way!
Austin. Jinny!
Ruth. [To Austin.] She must be told the truth.
[Austin bows his head.
Jinny. Now you'll make up your story, will you? I tell you it's useless. If he wouldn't let me see your compromising letter, I've seen a letter from him to you to-night that gives the whole thing away.
Ruth. [Very quietly.] Your husband went to Brooklyn without me, as your brother will tell you, to see the clergyman who married me, or thought he married me to Geoffrey Tillman three months ago! [Jinny looks up with a start.] That marriage was illegal because your brother was already married, and Mr. Austin tried and did get the promise of silence this afternoon about the Brooklyn service, to prevent a charge of bigamy against your brother. The first marriage, which still holds good, was with—Maggie, your present servant—
[Jinny stands immovable. There is a silence.
Austin. Geoffrey is not at your house?
Ruth. No, he left when I came on here. As I wrote you in the note I sent upstairs, I was too stunned by what he told me to answer then, and I wanted a word of advice with you. [She turns to Jinny.] I knew what I thought was my marriage to your brother must be kept secret, but I could not learn why. This was my trouble, which, after your marriage, I selfishly laid on your husband's shoulders, thinking he might help me! [No answer from Jinny, who stands as if struck dumb and into stone.] Mr. Austin only learned the whole truth when we met that day in Rome. I did not learn till to-day that I was not honestly your brother's wife. I had to be told, because divorce proceedings are to be started at once to break—the other—marriage. [No answer from Jinny.] To spare me, and above all to spare you the knowledge of your brother's sin, your husband has kept Geoffrey's secret from you. You have well repaid him! [She turns again to Austin.] Good-by—I feel to-night I couldn't marry Geoffrey again. He's tumbled so far off his pedestal he has fallen out of my heart. But still—we'll see; I've told him to come to-morrow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart—it's full of gratitude, even if it is broken!
[She goes out Right.