UNA. That's unfortunate. [Thinking.] Then I'll have to run away with you
and let her get the divorce.
BRAITHEWAITE [now really shocked]. Una!
UNA [innocently]. What, Dad? Have you something better to suggest?
BRAITHEWAITE [fuming]. I can't permit it. I didn't mind the uncommon
scandal of your marrying a car conductor, but I absolutely draw the line
at common scandal.
UNA [a little bored]. Father, dear, why will you sometimes talk to me
as though I were the Public Service Commission? There's going to be no
scandal. You can keep it out of the newspapers.
GEORGE. Excuse me, but that don't make any difference. I don't want to
get a divorce.
UNA. You don't? Why?
GEORGE [embarrassed]. Sounds like a song, I know, but--I love my wife.
UNA [in despair]. And you're the unusual man I'm to marry.
BRAITHEWAITE [with the contempt of a professional toward an amateur].
Stealing nickels doesn't develop the imagination.
UNA [desperately]. How can you love your wife? Some simple, economizing,
prosaic, hausfrau who----
GEORGE [with spirit]. I don't know what you're saying, but you better be
careful not to insult my wife. She's as good as you are and a rector's
daughter.
UNA [dumbfounded]. What?
GEORGE. Yes. Daughter of one of the biggest sky-pilots in town. I met
her at a settlement house. She put the question to me, too.
UNA [angry and doubting]. She----?
GEORGE. Sure. I've been through something like this before or I'd never
been able to stand it so well.
UNA [as before]. Your wife----?
GEORGE. Had a good deal more pluck than you, though. Up and told her
father she would marry me if he liked it or lumped it. He said he'd cut
her. And he did. We never seen him since. But Naomi and I don't care.
That's her name; so you can see she's a Bible-poacher's daughter. Naomi
and I've been happier than any people on earth. [Sternly.] She's taught
me to stand when a lady was standing. That's why I wouldn't obey you.
She's teaching me how to speak, too, and if I do say "ain't" and a
lot of other things I oughtn't to when I'm excited, that ai--isn't her
fault.
UNA. Then she--Naomi--has done everything unusual that I wanted to do,
before I did?
GEORGE. Sure. You can't be unusual to-day. Too much brains been in the
world before.
UNA. How is it I never heard this story, if her father's so well known?
GEORGE. D'you think your father's the only one can keep things out of
the papers?
UNA [going over and weeping on her father's shoulder]. Oh! And I wanted
to be unique.
BRAITHEWAITE [patting her]. There, there, dear. [To GEORGE.] You'd
better go, now, Coxey.
GEORGE. And my job?
BRAITHEWAITE. I'll see you still keep it.
GEORGE. Thanks. I don't want to.
BRAITHEWAITE. No?
GEORGE. I want a better.
BRAITHEWAITE [putting his daughter aside]. Indeed! Pray what?
GEORGE [nonchalantly]. Superintendent or something. I leave it to you.
You know more about what jobs there are than I do.
BRAITHEWAITE [controlling his anger]. And on what basis do you ask for a
better job?
GEORGE. Naomi always said my chance would come and I could take it, if I
had nerve and my eyes open. I think now's the time.
BRAITHEWAITE. Why?
GEORGE. Oh, this story about your daughter wouldn't look nice.
UNA. Oh!
BRAITHEWAITE. You forget the power your father-in-law and I have in the
press.
GEORGE. No, I don't. But I remember that you can't keep me from
spreading the news among your men. And I don't think----
BRAITHEWAITE [angry and advancing on him]. I could have you prosecuted
for blackmail, sir. Have you no honor?
GEORGE. Sure. My honor says provide for your family. I've got the
makings of a big man in me, Mr. Braithewaite. You can't chain me down
with a poor man's morals.