JINNY. And _I've_ been through a great deal _for many a day now_, and I want the truth about this at last! It's all very well for you to spare her by not telling me what this _mysterious_ trouble is about which you've been hoodwinking me ever since we were married, but _now_ you've got to choose between sparing _her_ and sparing _me_!
AUSTIN. Is this your answer to me when I beg you to be very careful to-night to control yourself?
JINNY. It's your turn to be careful! What did you marry me for if you were in love with Ruth?
JINNY. [_A little frightened, to excuse herself._] You gave me your word of honor she would stay abroad indefinitely.
AUSTIN. Nonsense! I said I understood she was going to stay some time--indefinitely.
JINNY. It's the same thing, and here she is back practically the moment we are!
AUSTIN. I can't control Miss Chester's movements--I couldn't foresee when she would come back. In Rome she told me she would stay on.
JINNY. [_Rising and facing him._] Ah! that's what I wanted to see, if you really _would lie_ to me!
JINNY. [_Beside herself._] Liar! [_He only looks at her, with his face hard and set; she is insane with jealousy for the moment._] _You sent_ for Ruth to come back.
JINNY. You tried to deceive me about it. And if you'll tell me a lie about one thing, you'll tell me a lie about another, and I don't believe one word of all your explanations about the intrigue between you and Ruth Chester!
AUSTIN. [_Taking her two hands._] Sit down!
[_She sits in the arm-chair, half forced by him._
JINNY. _Why_ did you send for Ruth Chester to come back?
AUSTIN. I have told you before, I am trying to help Miss Chester.
AUSTIN. I am trying to help her in a great and serious trouble.
JINNY. Why did you send for her to come back? What's the trouble?
AUSTIN. I've told you before I can't tell you.
JINNY. You daren't tell me, and you haven't even the face to tell another lie about it!
AUSTIN. If you say another word, I shall _hate_ you! If you _won't_ control _yourself_, I must make you, as well as keep my own sane balance. You have insulted my love for you to-night as you've never done before; you've struck at my own ideal of _you_; you've almost done, in a word, what I warned you you might do--_kill_ the love I have for you!