The Thirteenth Chair (1917).pdf

HELEN. My family—
WILLIAM (C.). I'm not marrying your family!
HELEN. I'm afraid you are.
WILLIAM. Oh!
HELEN. There's only mother.
MRS. CROSBY (rising and moving to HELEN'S side in front of table R.).
Oh, my dear, forgive me. Your mother should have been here to-night.
HELEN. No, my mother—Mrs. Crosby—mother doesn't go out—she'd be
unhappy here, and you'd be uncomfortable if she came. You'll find her trying
sometimes, you'll think she's common. Oh, don't misunderstand me. She's
the most wonderful mother in the world. And she's—
MRS. CROSBY. Suppose, my dear, that we take your mother for granted.
(She crosses to a position between WILLIAM and HELEN.) Take us as you
find us and we will try to be happy.
(Enter CROSBY from door L. He is a fine-looking man of about sixty, with
a pleasant personality, a good deal of charm and that masterful selfpossession which sometimes marks the man of affairs. It is always evident
that the most delightful intimacy exists between himself and his wife.)
MRS. CROSBY. Well, Roscoe?
CROSBY (moves to L.C.). Welcome, my dear. (HELEN crosses to him and
he takes her in his arms.)
HELEN. Oh, Mr. Crosby—I—
CROSBY (placing HELEN L. of him with arm still around her, reaching his
other hand to WILLIAM). Bill, shake!
(Father and son shake hands.)
(CROSBYlooks at his wife and they laugh gently.)
Shall I tell 'em?
MRS. CROSBY (standing in front of table over R.). I would.
WILLIAM (R.C.) Tell us what?
CROSBY (C.). You did this just in time. To-morrow I was going to forbid
you to have anything more to do with this young woman.
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