BEN
You done it all for her—well—she’s dead—you’d better go.
JANE
Maybe I had, but if I do it will be with the truth between us. Here’s the letter she left for me, Ben—I got a feeling somehow like she was here with us now, like she wanted you to read it. (She holds it out) It’s like she was guiding us from the grave—Read it.
[Crosses up to window.
BEN (reads)
“My dear Jane: The doctor tells me I haven’t long to live and so I am doing this, the meanest thing I think I’ve ever done to you. I’m leaving you the Jordan money. Since my husband died there has been just one person I could get to care about, that’s Ben, who was my baby so long after all the others had forgotten how to love me.” (He mumbles the letter to himself, then brings out the words) “Hold out her heart and let him trample on it, as he has on mine.”
[Slowly he breaks down, sobbing bitterly.
JANE
Don’t, Ben——