Jinny. Ruth Chester, principally.
Mrs. Tillman. Why Ruth?
Jinny. Well, the first real scene I made was in Rome in the Vatican. I was jealous of her; I can't explain it all to you—as a matter of fact, it hasn't been all explained to me! Something was troubling Ruth that Jack knew, and he said he'd help her.
Mrs. Tillman. What?
Jinny. That's just it; Jack won't tell me. And the day we sailed from Naples a telegram came, and of course I opened it, and it said, "Trust me, I will do everything you say. Ruth."
Mrs. Tillman. Why haven't you told me anything of all this before, dear?
Jinny. [Going back to her mother.] I was ashamed to! Somehow, in the end I always knew I was wrong and had hurt him—hurt him terribly, mother, the man I love better than everything else in the world! Yes, even better than you and father and Geoffrey—all together!
[In her mother's arms, crying a little.
Mrs. Tillman. Oh, this curse of jealousy! I was in hopes he was so strong he would help you to overcome it.
Jinny. He does try hard, I can see sometimes; but he hasn't a spark of it in him, and he can't understand it, and I know I'm unreasonable, and before I know it I am saying things I don't know what, and some day he won't forgive them! I'm sure some day he won't!—