Jervis monologue (Act 8) — Daddy Long-Legs : $b A comedy in four acts

Be good enough to attend to that immediately. And, Griggs, I want you to take down a letter—(_GRIGGS takes note-book from desk and comes to C. above table, ready to receive notes_)—to Miss Abbott. Something to the effect that Mr. Smith has been led to believe that she is considering the question of marriage with Mr. James McBride, and that, if her happiness is at stake, he approves of the step, and wishes her every joy. Then put in a word about Mr. Smith’s belief that a married woman ought to be independent of her husband in financial matters; and that he has created a little trust fund which he sends as a wedding present. Say he feels that with her final settlement in life, his own share in her career is at an end. That he thanks her for the four years of charming letters she has been good enough to send and with this final expression of his esteem he begs to remove his shadowy presence from her life. Sign it—(_WALTERS comes downstairs with tray and medicine to L. of table_)—and bring it to me to look over. (_Sinks into armchair as though exhausted. He seems in a moment to have become the old man that JUDY thinks him._)