WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Why Marry? cover

Why Marry?

Chapter 14: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
By Jesse Lynch Williams
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

HumourPlays/Films/Dramas

About This Book

Set during a weekend at a country house, a three-act comedy assembles a group of prospective brides, suitors, relatives and friends whose conversations and confrontations turn domestic arrangements into wry debate. The cast includes sisters conditioned for marriage, a rich neighbor, a hostess trying to preserve traditional roles, a tolerant judge, a conscientious clergyman, a decisive homeowner, and a scientist; each espouses different beliefs about love, divorce and social duty. Rather than vilifying individuals, the work satirizes the institutions and customs that govern romantic choices, showing how collective rules and expectations produce ironic and unintended results.

[Helen offers her hand in farewell to Lucy, but John shields her from Helen's touch, then to Jean. Rex shields Jean from contamination, but Jean weeps.

Judge

[barring the way. To Ernest]

Stop! You cannot! The very tie that binds you to this woman binds you to us and to the whole world with hooks of steel! [The lovers are still going, Judge ascends steps, facing them.] For the last time! before too late! Ernest! You know that in the eyes of God you are taking this woman to be your wife.

Ernest

In the eyes of God, I do take Helen to be my wife—but——

Judge

You, Helen! Speak, woman, speak!

Helen

I take Ernest to be my husband in the eyes of God, but——

Judge

[raises his hand augustly and in a voice of authority]

Then, since you, Ernest, and you, Helen, have made this solemn declaration before God and in the presence of witnesses, I, by the authority vested in me by the laws of this State do now pronounce you man and wife!

[Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton look at each other bewildered. Meanwhile the silence has been pierced, first by a little hysterical scream from Jean, then the others all wake up and crowd about the happy pair, congratulating them. The women who had snubbed Helen before cover her with kisses, for now she is fit for their embraces.

John

[to Theodore]

Saved! Saved! Respectable at last, thank God. [Raising his glass and hammering for attention.] Here's to the bride and groom.

[All cheer, raise glasses, and drink.

Ernest

[when the noise dies down. As the others kiss Helen]

A moment ago you were a bad woman. Now [to all] behold! she is a good woman. Marriage is wonderful.

[John and Lucy run to Judge and shake hands.

Judge

[to John and Lucy, his wife]

Yes, Respectability has triumphed this time, but let Society take warning and beware! beware! beware!

Curtain

BY JESSE LYNCH WILLIAMS

PRINCETON STORIES (1895).

THE ADVENTURES OF A FRESHMAN (1899).

THE STOLEN STORY, AND OTHER NEWSPAPER STORIES (1899).

NEW YORK SKETCHES (1902).

THE DAY-DREAMER (1906). (Being a novelization of the four-act comedy, "The Stolen Story."

THE GIRL AND THE GAME, AND OTHER COLLEGE STORIES (1908).

THE MARRIED LIFE OF THE FREDERIC CARROLLS (1910).

REMATING TIME (1916).

WHY MARRY? (1918). New edition of "And So They Were Married."

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS