Page:The Return of the Soldier (Van Druten).djvu/54

This page has been validated.

THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER

high soprano voice. And he said . . . Kitty, I’m only repeating his words . . . you ask me what he said . . .

Kitty : Go on.

Frank : He said, “I don’t like little women, and I hate anybody, male or female, who sings. Oh, God, I don’t like this Kitty. Take her away.”

[There is a silence.

Kitty (low): He always said he liked my singing!

[There is another long, uncomfortable silence.

Kitty sits down sullenly.

Frank fidgets.

Frank : I think I’ll go and knock the balls about in the billiard-room. (Silence.) If there’s anything I can do . . . (Silence.) I shall be in the billiard-room . . . or the library.

[He goes out L.

The silence continues a moment, then Kitty turns to Jenny.

Kitty : Jenny, what’s going to happen?

Jenny : I’m terrified to think.

Kitty : When he sees her . . .

Jenny : He’ll see her aged and plain and shabby. He'll look in vain for the girl he knew in the

50