OMETSU. No, dear, it isn’t. No one can tell who will be the saviour
of his country. Jack, darling, we must think of that. We must--I
must--think of what ought to be done for love of country.... You will
have to go--Jack.
JACK. Ometsu! You are not--you are not afraid?
BELSON. Afraid! Maitland, she is a daughter of Japan! You are a son of
England! _She_ sees--_she_ knows----
JACK. She doesn’t! Ometsu!
OMETSU. Yes, I do, Jack; _dear_ Jack! You must go back--it was a
mistake. (_She tries to draw away from him, but he holds her by her
wrists._) You must go, Jack. And if you come back--I’ll wait. I--I
shan’t forget--dear heart!
JACK. But--Ometsu!
OMETSU. Jack, dear, we had forgotten--there are greater claims than
that of love. Your _country_ wants you. It has a greater claim on you
than I.... Don’t make it too hard for me.... You know that you ought to
go.
BELSON (_almost sharply_). Maitland, show her that you are a man!
JACK (_holds out his arms, she comes to him_). You believe it the right
thing to do, Ometsu?
OMETSU. Yes, dear--and I will wait--and wait.
JACK. And I will come back--you shall _be_ my wife! (_He bends down and
kisses her. BELSON comes forward and takes his arm, and gently draws
him away. BELSON turns quickly to OMETSU, takes her hand and kisses
it almost reverently. Then he leads JACK almost dazed from the room._)
(_OMETSU stands and watches them go through the door. SIMPSON
stands rigidly to attention as they pass._)
BELSON (_to SIMPSON as they pass_). Pack up and follow!
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
(_As BELSON and JACK disappear, OMETSU staggers to a chair by
the table and with a little sob drops her head on her arms._)
SIMPSON (_goes to her and bends over her; speaks brokenly_). He said
he’d come back--I’ll bring him back! (_He waits for a moment but she
takes no notice. He then picks up the corner of the sleeve of her
kimono, presses it to his lips, and then goes out slowly. As he reaches
the door the curtain falls._)
_Printed by BUTLER & TANNER, Frome and London._