ACT III

by Susan Glaspell

　　SCENE: The same as Act II three hourslater. PROFESSOR HOLDEN is seated at the table, books beforehim. He is a man in the fifties. At the moment his care-worn faceis lighted by that lift of the spirit which sometimes rewards thescholar who has imaginative feeling. HARRY, a student clerk,comes hurrying in. Looks back.

　　HARRY: Here's Professor Holden, Mr Fejevary.

　　HOLDEN: Mr Fejevary is looking for me?

　　HARRY: Yes.

　　(He goes back, a moment later MR FEJEVARYenters. He has his hat, gloves, stick; seems tired anddisturbed.)

　　HOLDEN: Was I mistaken? I thought our appointment was forfive.

　　FEJEVARY: Quite right. But things have changed, so I wondered ifI might have a little talk with you now.

　　HOLDEN: To be sure. (rising) Shall we go downstairs?

　　FEJEVARY: I don't know. Nice and quiet up here. (toHARRY, who is now passing through) Harry, the library isclosed now, is it?

　　HARRY: Yes, it's locked.

　　FEJEVARY: And there's no one in here?

　　HARRY: No, I've been all through.

　　FEJEVARY: There's a committee downstairs. Oh, this is a terribleday. (putting his things on the table) We'd better stay uphere. Harry, when my niece—when Miss Morton arrives—Iwant you to come and let me know. Ask her not to leave the buildingwithout seeing me.

　　HARRY: Yes, sir. (he goes out)

　　FEJEVARY: Well, (wearily) it's been a day. Not the day Iwas looking for.

　　HOLDEN: No.

　　FEJEVARY: You're very serene up here.

　　HOLDEN: Yes, I wanted to be—serene for a little while.

　　FEJEVARY: (looking at the books) Emerson. Whitman.(with a smile) Have they anything new to say oneconomics?

　　HOLDEN: Perhaps not; but I wanted to forget economics for atime. I came up here by myself to try and celebrate the fortiethanniversary of the founding of Morton College. (answering theother man's look) Yes, I confess I've been disappointed in theanniversary. As I left Memorial Hall after the exercises thismorning, Emerson's words came into my mind—

　　'Give me truth,

　　For I am tired of surfaces

　　And die of inanition.'