STEVEN.  Shall I look?

GEORGIANA. [Standing by the sofa.] No, I will.  Here it is—­“Battle with Ladrones.  The 91st Regiment of New York, which went out under Captain H.S.  Miller to subdue the bandits in the Island of Orla, met an ambuscade of the Ladrones and were annihilated almost to a man.” [She looks up dazed, not able at once to realize what it means.  Rereads, skipping some lines.] “Captain H.S.  Miller who went out under—­to subdue the bandits in the—­met an ambuscade of the Ladrones and was annihilated almost to a man.”  Steve! his regiment,—­do you think it’s true?  Do you think it can be true?

STEVEN. [Beside her.] No, let me read it.

GEORGIANA. [She sinks down on the end of the sofa.] No, I will! [She reads on.] “News was brought by private—­private—­[Her eyes hurrying on.] the sole survivors.  Privates—­” [Her eyes run along the printed lines again.] Steve, I can’t see his name.  Isn’t it there?  Can’t you see it?

STEVEN. [Looking.] No.

GEORGIANA. [Almost whispers.] It means—?

STEVEN. [Striving to hide his own emotion and to encourage her.] The news is too meagre to be true.

MRS. CARLEY. [In hall Left.] Georgiana!  We must go.

GEORGIANA. [Starts.  To STEVEN.] Don’t let mother come in, please.

LOUISE. [Just outside the door.] Georgiana, we must go.

GEORGIANA. [To STEVEN.] Say I’m coming.

STEVEN.  I can’t leave you alone. [Going to the door.] Georgy’s coming.

LOUISE. [Outside.] Good!  Hurry!

STEVEN. [Coming back to her.] But I can’t leave you.

GEORGIANA.  You must.  And anyway I want you to.  I want to be alone.

[STEVEN hesitates.  He comes and takes her hand and is about to kiss her, but something keeps him back; he presses her hand and she gives a grateful look.  She crosses to the dressing table and sits before it, dazed.  Slowly she takes the flowers from her hair, the pearls from her neck.  The front door slams, she lifts her head, and leaning her arm toward DICK’S picture, draws it toward her, gazing at it.  Then, crying, “Dick, Dick,” she bursts into tears and drops her head upon her arms outstretched on the table as

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT IV

Seven weeks later.  The drawing-room as in Act II. GEORGIANA, in a clinging black lace dress, is at the piano, playing “Traumerei.”  The sunshine pours in through the windows. MOLES comes in apologetically from the Left.

MOLES.  Mr. Coast wants to know if you will see him, miss.

GEORGIANA. [Who continues playing.] Very well, Moles.

MOLES.  Shall I show him up?

[GEORGIANA nods her head. MOLES goes out. GEORGIANA continues playing.  In a few seconds MOLES reenters with COAST.