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Upton Sinclair >> The Naturewoman
HENRY. You?
OCEANA. It was our favorite game.
HENRY. It's a rather rough game for a woman.
OCEANA. I love it. We'll have a bout.
HENRY. I'm afraid . . . I don't think I could.
OCEANA. Why not?
HENRY. [Laughs.] I should find it a psychical impossibility to hit a
woman.
OCEANA. You might find it a physical impossibility in this case. [With
sudden excitement.] Why, my trunks have come! We could have a go
before dinner. Couldn't we, Freddy?
FREDDY. I suppose so.
OCEANA. Oh, it's just what I'm pining for! To get my blood stirring
again! And you, too . . . surely you must be chafing, out of patience!
[She stops abruptly.] Oh!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters left.] Henry!
HENRY. Yes?
MRS. MASTERSON. When did you get here?
HENRY. Just a minute ago.
MRS. MASTERSON. You've met Anna, I see.
OCEANA. Yes, Aunt Sophronia . . . we're getting along famously.
MRS. MASTERSON. Letitia's looking for you, Henry.
HENRY. Where is she?
MRS. MASTERSON. She went home to find you.
HENRY. Humph! I came here for her.
MRS. MASTERSON. She wants you at once.
HENRY. All right. Good-bye, Oceana.
OCEANA. Until later.
HENRY [exit centre with MRS. MASTERSON.]
OCEANA. So that is Henry! Tell me, Ethel, have they any children?
ETHEL. Yes . . . two.
OCEANA. How long have they been married?
ETHEL. Six years.
OCEANA. Six years! And is he really happy?
ETHEL. Why . . . you know Letitia.
OCEANA. Yes, but I don't know Henry.
ETHEL. [Laughs.] I guess he's so-so. Like most of us.
OCEANA. [Half to herself.] I'll find out for myself. ['Phone rings;
FREDDY rises.] What's that? It's the 'phone. [Rises.] I hadn't noticed
it before! How interesting!
ETHEL. That's so! You never saw one?
FREDDY. [At 'phone.] Hello! Yes, this is Mrs. Masterson's. This is her
son. Can't I take the message? Oh, from Miss Pilkington. Oh! Why,
that's too bad! Why no, of course not. Tell Miss Pilkington we're as
sorry as can be! No, I'll attend to it. Good-bye. [Turns.] Miss
Pilkington can't come!
ETHEL. What?
FREDDY. She's slipped in the snow and hurt her ankle.
ETHEL. Oh, Freddy!
OCEANA. What a shame!
[They stare at one another.]
ETHEL. Was that she at the 'phone?
FREDDY. No, her maid. She's laid up.
ETHEL. What in the world will we do?
FREDDY. It's too late to notify people.
ETHEL. How perfectly beastly!
FREDDY. I'll go tell mother.
OCEANA. No, wait!
FREDDY. What is it?
OCEANA. I've an idea.
FREDDY. What?
OCEANA. Why not let ME take her place?
ETHEL. How do you mean?
OCEANA. Let me dance!
ETHEL. Oh!
OCEANA. Why not? I'd love to do it.
ETHEL. Oceana! You'd do the Sunrise Dance?
OCEANA. Yes; and then if they liked it, I could do some others.
ETHEL. Oh, Oceana! How perfectly lovely! But . . . but I wonder if it
would be all right. I mean . . . it wouldn't shock them?
OCEANA. Why should it, my dear?
ETHEL. Is it what they'd call proper?
OCEANA. Why, of course, Ethel. How ridiculous! It isn't a sex-dance.
It's religious.
FREDDY. And the costume?
OCEANA. Oh, the costume is beautiful.
ETHEL. Then I'll ask mother.
[Starts to go.]
OCEANA. Wait. Will Henry be there?
ETHEL. Of course.
OCEANA. Are you sure?
ETHEL. Of course.
OCEANA. [Eagerly.] Why ask your mother at all? Why not just go ahead
and do it?
ETHEL. Oceana!
OCEANA. Why not? She'd only worry meantime. So let's just wait, and
I'll go ahead.
ETHEL. Oh, would you dare?
OCEANA. Why, of course! She needn't know until almost time. Is this
Miss Pilkington known here?
ETHEL. No, she's never been in Boston before.
FREDDY. Mother met her in London. She promised she'd do her famous
Biblical Dances for mother's pet foundling asylum.
OCEANA. Well, don't you see? Most of the people wouldn't know till it
was all over! And oh, Ethel, it would be such a lark! [ETHEL and
FREDDY gaze at each other dubiously.] Who was going to play for Miss
Pilkington ?
ETHEL. I was.
OCEANA. Well, then, you can play for me! You see, Ethel, I'm afraid to
tell your mother . . . she mightn't be willing. She wants to suppress
me, and oh, I just can't be suppressed! I must have something to do or
I'll jump out of my skin, Ethel. Truly, my dear, if this goes on much
longer, I'll go out and climb the telegraph pole in front of the
house! And if I can only make an impression with my dancing, then I
may choose that for my career. I've been thinking of it seriously . .
. it's one way,
that people might let me preach joy and health to them. If I can't do
that, I'll go off and turn into a suffragette, or join the Anarchists,
or something worse!
ETHEL. Freddy, what do you say?
FREDDY. I'll stand my share of the racket.
OCEANA. Oh, come on! I'm just wild for some kind of mischief! I could
dance like the grandmother of all the witches! Come, let's practice
some. Play for me, Ethel! Play! [Pushes her toward the piano; raises
her hands in triumph; whispers.] Henry!
CURTAIN
ACT III
[Front part of stage shows an ante-room, with folding doors opening to
rear part, which represents a portion of the Masterson parlor,
curtained off to form a stage for the dance. Entrances down stage
right and left. Up stage, at the left, are the curtains, which part in
the middle; they are held by a cord which is fastened by the wall.
OCEANA'S trunk stands near entrance, right. Also a couple of chairs.]
[At rise: FREDDY stands left, holding curtain cord. OCEANA lies up
centre, covered with the "Bridal-robe," asleep. Music of Sunrise Dance
begins softly. FREDDY draws back curtains, revealing part of audience,
left. He steals off. OCEANA gradually awakens, raises her head, lifts
herself to her knees, stretches out her hands in worship to the Sun-
god. Then slowly she rises, rapt in wonder. The robe falls back,
revealing a filmy costume, primitive, elemental, naive. She begins to
sway, and gradually glides into an ecstatic dance, which portrays the
joyful awakening of morning.]
MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters, left, in great agitation, stares at OCEANA,
wrings her hands, paces about, signals to her frantically.] Oh! Oh!
[Rushes left and releases curtains, which fall.]
OCEANA. [Turns in consternation.] Why! What . . . [Sees MRS.
MASTERSON.] Aunt Sophronia!
MRS. MASTERSON. How dare you! How dare you!
OCEANA. Why, what's the matter?
MRS. MASTERSON. You ask me? Oh, oh!
OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia, you stopped my dance!
MRS. MASTERSON. Hussy! Shameless wanton! You have disgraced me before
all the world!
OCEANA. [Stares at her, slowly comprehending.] Oh! I see! [Goes to her
with signs of distress.] Oh, Aunt Sophronia, I'm so sorry! I didn't
mean to displease you!
MRS. MASTERSON. Such a humiliation!
OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia, you must believe me . . . I had a reason!
MRS. MASTERSON. A what?
OCEANA. A reason for doing it! I couldn't help it . . . believe me,
believe me!
MRS. MASTERSON. But what . . . what reason? What do you mean?
OCEANA. I can't tell you, Aunt Sophronia. But truly . . . if you knew,
you would understand. I simply had to do it.
MRS. MASTERSON. [Bewildered.] Is the girl mad?
OCEANA. Yes, I believe that is it! I am mad!
DR. MASTERSON. [Opens door and enters left.] Oceana !
MRS. MASTERSON. [Hurries to him.] Quincy! Don't come in here! It's not
decent! [Pushes him towards door; to OCEANA.] Put something on you,
girl!
OCEANA. Of course. [Puts on robe.]
MRS. MASTERSON. I can't comprehend you! Have you no sense of shame
whatever?
OCEANA. I had a sense of shame.
MRS. MASTERSON. Naked! Almost naked! And in my home!
ETHEL. [Enters left.] Mother, what's the matter?
MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel! You knew of this outrageous plot . . .
OCEANA. One moment, Aunt Sophronia. The blame for this rests upon me
alone. I told Ethel that the dance was all right.
MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel, leave the room. This is no place for you.
ETHEL. Mother! The people are waiting . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. Go at once! [To DR. MASTERSON.] Quincy, go out and
make some apology to our guests. Explain to them that we had no idea .
. . we were imposed upon . . .
[Applause heard off left.]
OCEANA. Perhaps if your guests were consulted . . .
DR. MASTERSON. My dear Sophronia . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. [Pushes him off.] Go! Quickly! [Turns to OCEANA.] And
as for you, Anna Talbot, there is no more to be said. You have
overwhelmed me with shame.
OCEANA. Perhaps, Aunt Sophronia, you would prefer I should leave your
house?
MRS. MASTERSON. [Stiffly.] I would make no objection.
OCEANA. I will go as soon as I dress.
MRS. MASTERSON. Very well. [Starts towards the door.] I will do what I
can to atone for your wantonness.
OCEANA. One moment, Aunt Sophronia.
MRS. MASTERSON. Well?
OCEANA. Ethel tells me that you had something to say to me about
grandfather's will.
MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! Ethel told you, did she?
OCEANA. Yes . . . she wished you to know that she had told me. Of
course, feeling towards me as you do, you would hardly expect me to
give up any rights that I may have.
MRS. MASTERSON. We will be content with what rights the law allows us.
OCEANA. What I wished to say was that I would be willing to give Ethel
part of my inheritance.
MRS. MASTERSON. Oh!
OCEANA. I would not give it to Freddy, for he is a man, and I should
be breaking the mainspring of his life. But I will give half my money
to Ethel, provided that you will consent to let her go with me.
MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! So that is your idea! You have already weaned the
child from me . . . you have made her a traitor to me; and now you
wish to buy her altogether.
OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia!
MRS. MASTERSON. Your offer is declined. I have no more to say to you.
[She sweeps out.]
OCEANA. [Stands lost in thought; a smile grows upon her face.] Poor
Aunt Sophronia!
[Begins to hum, and to sway as in the Sunrise Dance. She completes the
dance from where she was interrupted, from an impulse of inner
delight.]
FREDDY. [Steals in right; watches her, enraptured, as she stands with
arms outstretched in ecstasy. He rushes towards her and flings himself
at her feet, clasping her hand.] Oceana!
OCEANA. Freddy!
FREDDY. [Sobbing incoherently.] Oceana! I can't stand it!
OCEANA. Why . . . what's the matter?
FREDDY. I love you! I love you! I can't live without you! I can't give
you up . . . Oceana, have mercy on me!
OCEANA. [Gravely.] Freddy! This won't do! No . . . let go of me,
please! You must control yourself.
FREDDY. Don't send me away! How can you be so cruel to me?
OCEANA. But, Freddy, I have told you that I don't love you. [She
stands, thinking.] Give me my robe. Now, come sit down here, and
listen to me. I am going away, Freddy, and you won't see me any more.
And that is for the best . . . for you must get me out of your mind. I
don't love you, Freddy.
FREDDY. And you never would love me?
OCEANA. Never.
FREDDY. But why not . . . why not?
OCEANA. I can't tell you that.
FREDDY. Oh, you are pitiless to me!
OCEANA. One does not give love out of pity. That is a cowardly thing
to ask. [She pauses.] I must be frank with you, Freddy. You have got
to face the facts. When I give my love, it will be to a man; and you
are not a man.
FREDDY. But I am growing up!
OCEANA. No; you don't understand me. You should have grown up years
ago. You have been stunted. [She takes his hand.] Look! See the
stains!
FREDDY. Why. . .
OCEANA. Cigarettes! And you want to be a man!
FREDDY. Is that so unforgivable?
OCEANA. It is only one thing of many, my dear cousin.
FREDDY. Oceana, you don't know what men are!
OCEANA. Oh, don't I! My dear boy, there is nothing about men that I
don't know. I have read Krafft-Ebing and Havelock Ellis . . . I know
it all. I know it as a physician knows it. I can read a man's diseases
in his complexion . . . I can read his vices in his eyes. Don't you
see?
FREDDY. [Drops his eyes.] I see!
OCEANA. Don't think that I am despising you, dear boy. I know the
world you have lived in.
FREDDY. But what can I do?
OCEANA. You can go away, and make a man of yourself. Go West, get out
into the open. Learn to ride and hunt . . . harden your muscles and
expand your chest. Until then you're not fit to be the father of any
woman's child!
FREDDY. Drop college, you mean?
OCEANA. Be your own college! The idea of trying to build a brain in a
body that's decaying! How could you stand it? Don't you ever feel that
you are boiling over . . . that you must have something upon which you
can wreak yourself? Don't you feel that you'd like to tame a horse, or
to sail a boat in a storm? Don't you ever read about adventures?
FREDDY. Yes, I read about them.
OCEANA. And don't you ever feel that you must experience them? That
you must face some kind of danger . . . do something that you can look
back on with pride? Why, see . . . six years ago there came to our
island three war-canoes full of savages . . . cannibals they were. If
father and I hadn't been there, they'd have wiped our people out. And
do you think I'd give up the memory of that struggle?
FREDDY. What happened?
OCEANA. Fortunately they came in the daytime, so we soon drove them
back to their boats. See . . . I'll show you. [She goes to trunk.]
Here's one of them.
[She lifts up a human skull.]
FREDDY. Good Lord!
OCEANA. Notice that crack. That was done with a spear . . . by my
prince, the one who made me this robe, you know. He cleaned the skull
out for me.
FREDDY. Rather a ghastly sort of souvenir.
OCEANA. Oh, I don't mind that. Father and I found it useful . . . a
sort of memento mori.
FREDDY. [Looking into trunk.] And what are those things?
OCEANA. They are some of my arrows. And these are what we used for
bowls . . . turtle-shells, you see.
FREDDY. [Pointing.] But those?
OCEANA. Oh, my single-sticks. [Lifts them.] That's the game Henry and
I were talking about. You ought to get him to teach it to you.
FREDDY. What's it like?
OCEANA. I'll show you. [She takes from the trunk two leather helmets
and gloves.] Here you are! It's an old English game . . . didn't you
ever read "Robin Hood"?
FREDDY. Oh, it's that? Why, they used to crack each other's heads!
OCEANA. The object was to draw first blood. But we used to wear these
helmets. You see how we've dented them up? And these old cudgels . . .
how they remind me of father!
FREDDY. Humph! They're heavy.
OCEANA. You take the stick this way; it's a kind of fencing. [She
gives him a stick and illustrates the play.] No, so!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters.] What's this? Is this the way you get ready
to leave?
OCEANA. [Imploring.] Oh, Aunt Sophronia, I beg your pardon! I got so
interested . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. Is there no limit to your indiscretion?
DR. MASTERSON. [Enters hurriedly.] Sophronia, I beg of you . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. I will hear no more of this! I have spoken, once for
all . . .
DR. MASTERSON. But, my dear . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. No more!
DR. MASTERSON. But, Sophronia, the people don't understand why . . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. It was outrageous!
DR. MASTERSON. I know. But since it was begun . . . it's so difficult
to explain . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. No more of this! I won't hear it!
HENRY. [Enters; stares about.] Mrs. Masterson, what have you done
here?
MRS. MASTERSON. There is no reason why you should concern yourself
with it.
HENRY. But I wish to know.
MRS. MASTERSON. What do you wish to know?
HENRY. Did you stop Oceana's dance?
MRS. MASTERSON. I did.
HENRY. And why?
MRS. MASTERSON. Because I saw fit to.
HENRY. But your guests . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. I will attend to my guests.
HENRY. But what is Oceana going to do?
MRS. MASTERSON. She is going to leave our house.
HENRY. This is a shame. Most of the people enjoyed the dance. They
would like to see more . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. Henry, you will permit me to decide about what goes on
in my home.
HENRY. You may decide for yourself. But if Oceana leaves tonight, I
will leave also . . . and I will never return.
MRS. MASTERSON. Very well, Sir; as you please.
OCEANA. Henry, let me have a say. I am obliged to you, but I don't
want to stay. It's absurd for me to be here . . . I don't belong here.
I've lived all my life under the open sky; I've been free. I've swum
several miles every day and run several more; I've hunted and fished
and danced and played; and here they dress me up in long skirts and
sit me in a corner and tell me I'm a lady! I can stand it just so long
. . . I've stood it twenty-four hours, and I feel like a wild animal
in a cage. If I don't find something to do . . . something real . . .
something that is thrilling . . . truly, I'll murder some one. [She
paces the room; DR. and MRS. Masterson shrink away from her.] Yes, I
mean it! [With increasing vehemence.] Picture me at home. When I was
hungry, I went out for game; and unless I got the game, I stayed
hungry. Or I went fishing, and I had to get my canoe through the surf.
I had the zest of danger . . . I had real struggle. But here I have
nothing. They bring me my food on silver platters; they get up and
give me their seats, they even push the doors open in front of me! And
so I'm panting for something to do . . . for some opposition, some
competition, some conflict. I'm spoiling for a fight! You, Henry,
don't you know what I mean? A fight! [With a sharp, swift gesture.] I
want to meet some wild animal again! Is there a wild animal in you?
[They stare at each other; suddenly she springs and takes the other
single-stick from FREDDY.] Here! You know this game! My father taught
you! [She holds out one to him.] Come on!
HENRY. [Bewildered.] Oceana! This is not the place.
OCEANA. It's the place for me! Take it! [She forces it on him.] Now!
Forget that I'm a woman! Ready!
HENRY. Oceana! No!
OCEANA. Are you afraid of your mother-in-law?
HENRY. Good heavens!
OCEANA. If you're not, you're the only man in the family that isn't.
[She drops her robe.] Now!
MRS. MASTERSON. This is disgraceful!
DR. MASTERSON. Oceana, I beg of you . . .
OCEANA. Defend yourself! [She makes a feint at Henry's head, causing
him to raise his stick.] Lay on!
[She attacks him briskly. He defends himself. There is a swift rattle
of the sticks and a vivid conflict.]
HENRY. [Laughing.] Oceana, for God's sake, stop!
MRS. MASTERSON. Oh, stop them!
DR. MASTERSON. Are you mad?
FREDDY. Oceana!
OCEANA. [Wild with the excitement of the struggle.] Lay on! Ha, ha!
Well played! Guard! Once again! Ah, this is what I like! This is what
I've been looking for! [They leap here and there; the others dodge out
of the way, protesting; the conflict grows more and more strenuous.]
LETITIA. [Enters left; screams in terror.] Henry! [They stop; a long
pause.] Henry! What does this mean?
HENRY. My dear . . .
[Stops for lack of breath.]
OCEANA. Freddy, my robe.
[Wraps herself and sits in chair, smiling.]
LETITIA. What does this mean?
MRS. MASTERSON. Of all the shameless and insane procedures!
LETITIA. Are you mad, Henry?
OCEANA. No, no, Letitia. We know just what we're about. You see, your
husband and I are considering whether or not we shall fall in love
with each other.
LETITIA. [Wildly.] Oh!
MRS. MASTERSON. Monstrous!
DR. MASTERSON. Oceana!
LETITIA. How dare you?
OCEANA. He's interested, you know. I've got hold of him.
LETITIA. [Furiously.] Henry, you stand there and permit her to insult
me . . .
HENRY. My dear, believe me . . .
OCEANA. [Sharply.] Stop, Henry! [A pause.] Look at me!
HENRY. Well?
OCEANA. Don't tell her a lie. A lie is the thing I never pardon.
HENRY. Why . . . why . . .
[Falls silent.]
MRS. MASTERSON. Henry!
FREDDY. Gee whiz!
LETITIA. Henry, I demand that you come home with me instantly.
OCEANA. Don't go.
LETITIA. [Almost speechless.] If you stay here, you stay alone!
OCEANA. [Rises, casts aside her robe, stretches wide her arms.]
Letitia! Look at me! Am I the sort of woman that you can safely leave
your husband alone with?
LETITIA. [Stares at her terrified, then bursts into tears and flings
herself into HENRY'S arms.] Henry!
OCEANA. Ah, yes! That is safer!
HENRY. [Supports LETITIA.] My dear! My dear!
LETITIA. Come home with me!
OCEANA. God, man, how I pity you! Bound in chains to a woman like
that! And with all the world conspiring to hold you fast! How can you
bear it? Do you expect to bear it forever? What will become of your
soul? Oh, I pity you! I pity you!
LETITIA. [Hysterically.] Henry, take me home! Take me home at once!
HENRY. Yes, my dear, yes!
OCEANA. What is the spell they've laid upon you? You make me think of
Gulliver . . . a giant stretched out upon the ground, impotent, bound
fast with a million tiny threads! Wake up, man . . . wake up! You've
only one life to live. You act as if you had a thousand.
LETITIA. Mother!
MRS. MASTERSON. How long is this to continue?
LETITIA. Henry, won't you stop listening to her?
OCEANA. He's not listening to me, Letitia. He's listening to the voice
of the universe, calling to him. The voice of unborn generations,
clamoring, agonizing! What do you suppose it means, man . . . this
storm that has shaken us? It is Nature's trumpet-call . . . it is the
shout of discovery of the powers within us! For ages upon ages life
has been preparing it . . . and now suddenly we meet . . . the
barriers are shattered and flung down, the tides of being sweep us
together!
MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! This is outrageous!
DR. MASTERSON. Oceana, Henry is married!
OCEANA. Married! Married! That is the sorcery with which you bind him!
No longer a man at all, but some aborted thing . . . a relic! An
eunuch! They mumble their incantations over you . . . the spell is
done, and you sink back, cowed and whimpering! You are a machine, a
domestic utensil! Never again are you to love and to dare to create
No, there are other things in life for you . . . bread and butter,
cooks and dinner parties, billiards and bridge-whist . . . that is
your portion! A married man!
LETITIA. [Terrified.] Henry! For God's sake!
[He no longer returns her embraces, but stares at Oceana, fascinated.]
OCEANA. Don't you see, man? It's a dream! A nightmare! Rouse yourself,
lift your head . . . and it's gone! Life is calling! Come away!
LETITIA. [Frantically.] Mother! Mother!
MRS. MASTERSON. Quincy, if you can't stop this outrage, I will! Call
the servants.
[She starts toward Oceana.]
OCEANA. Call the police! Call your guests! Anything . . . bring the
world down on him. Terrify him with conventions, beat him into
subjection again!
MRS. MASTERSON. Wanton!
OCEANA. Wanton! Oh, how well you understand me! I, with my hunger for
righteousness . . . I, who have disciplined myself as an anchorite,
who have served as a priestess of life! And you, with your formulas
and your superstitions . . . you pass judgment upon me! [With terrific
energy.] See! This man and I, we are the gateway to the future! And
you seek to bar it! By what right do you stand in the path of
posterity . . . you tormentors of the ideal, you assassins of human
hope!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Almost striking her.] Oh! Oh! And my children have to
listen to this! [She whirls about.] Ethel! Freddy! Go out of the room!
ETHEL. I am going with Oceana.
MRS. MASTERSON. What?
ETHEL. Some day . . . if not now. She's perfectly right. Letitia has
no business to keep him. She never would have got him if she hadn't
played a part.
MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel Masterson!
LETITIA. Little vixen!
FREDDY. [Rushes to OCEANA and seizes her hand.] Oceana! Let me go with
you, too!
DR. MASTERSON. What next!
OCEANA. No, Freddy . . . no! [She withdraws her hand and holds it out
to Henry.] Henry! Come!
[A tense pause; all stare at Henry. He never takes his eyes from
Oceana. Slowly, like one hypnotized, he draws away from his wife's
embrace, and moves towards Oceana. He seizes her hand. All stand
transfixed. Silence.]
[CURTAIN]
ACT IV
[The scene shows the living-room of a bungalow. Large stone fireplace
centre; windows and window seats on each side; French windows leading
to piazza right; piano between them; door left to another room; large
mirror beside it. Centre table, rustic chairs, deer-heads and skins,
Indian blankets, etc.]
[At rise: The stage is empty.]
OCEANA. [Laughs off.] Oh, say, but that was an adventure!
[Enters; glowing and exultant from a long mountain walk. She wears a
"Rosalind" costume, brown, with soft boots, gauntlet gloves and light
fur about the neck; carries a pair of snow-shoes, which she has taken
off and from which she knocks the snow.]
HENRY. [Follows.] You like the mountains!
OCEANA. Oh, my dear! They are marvellous! I've never imagined anything
like it . . . to be able to see so much of the world at once. It's the
way you think of heaven.
HENRY. You don't mind the cold?
OCEANA. I find I prefer it. I think I shall stay here forever. It
tunes you up so! It makes you quite drunk! [Looks at herself in the
mirror.] I look cute in this, don't I?
HENRY. You look like a fairy-story!
OCEANA. I ought to have had sense enough to think of a theatrical
costumer in the beginning. [Stretches her arms.] Oh, I feel so
wonderful! Ha, ha, ha! I don't know whether it's the mountain air . .
. or whether it's because I'm in love!
HENRY. [Seizes her hand.] Sweetheart!