Anna Dickinson  Speeches & Writings File    PLAYS "An American Girl" 
Act III, annotatedAct 3.
An
AMERICAN GIRL
A COMEDY
BY 
ANNA E. DICKINSON
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, in the Office
of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

                     1
Scene: Kate's room in New York.
Piano  Mr. Tirian
lying on lounge, or seated in easy
chair by table or fire, asleep.
A supper table small & pretty
about which Mrs. Cranford busies
herself taking some things from
servant at door & putting them
in order &c. Dr Campe looking
looking at Clock or watch.
Dr.
Half past ten. I hope she will
not be too tired for the talk / I 
want to have with her tonight. I 
told Armstrong i would see her /
& give him word of that [that]
business in the morning — (walks)
It is strange how completely she
has succeeded in hoodwinking
everybody. / She is accused of 
vanity, /  of frivolity, / of an itching
desire for notoriety, / even / of a miserly
love of money / but no one has so much
as suspected the real reason.
Mrs. C.
Strange? Nothing strange about 
it. When nobody knows the actual2
truth people will go to the ends
of the earth to find it, when it lies
under their eyes to see--if they
cared to open them.   
Dr. 
Luckily in this case, She tells 
me Armstrong has succeeded 
in doing just what they planned
& that my poor Lawrence's affairs
(looking towards Vivian) are being
so settled that his conscience as 
well as his name will be clear. _
but stripped to the bone. _ She
was right. Time will accomplish and
save all they cared to save & accomplish, 
when a hasty close would
have revealed & lost all. _ But
at what cost to herself. 
 Mrs. C.
She is happy.
Dr. 
(looking towards Vivian) Because she
is helping him. _ yes & because
she must enjoy her life too (smiling) 
She's in the swim. 
Mrs. C.
As you say. (nodding) and from

                         3
the moment you get there you have 
only to let yourself go. Nothing can stop
you. All Reirdon can say or put
others up to say cant hurt her now. 
Her future's secure.
Dr.
(whirling round) So you think Reirdon
is at the bottom of it. 
Mrs. C.
So do you. 
 Dr.
Why do you say so?     
Mrs. C.
Because you & I both know him &
know of what he is capable.
Dr. 
Yes, he is the sort of being who if he
can't enjoy will destroy. She has
wounded his vanity as well as 
his heart. He must be furious over
this second play - while his waits
'Tis a pity she hasn't a little 
more policy. Honesty is a virtue
without doubt but honesty is wasted
on some folks.
 Mrs. C.
Yes (business) and there is4
scripture authority against throwing
pearls before swine. 
There! That's done, I always like
to do it myself. Then I know everything 
will please her.
Dr. 
It is time those children were here.
Mrs. C.
And she will be but a moment
after them. (looking at Vivian)
He never retires 'till she comes to 
bid him good night - so she just
flings her wraps about her & comes 
home in her last dress - without 
waiting a change (Vivian 'wakens)
Awake Lawrence? 
 Vivian
Is it time for Kate?
Mrs. C.
Presently, dear
Dr.
How do you feel?
Vivian
Bravely, Bravely, you will make 
a sound man of me yet. 
You & Kate, she is enough to put
a soul into a stone. - ah! 
(Stella & Fred enter)

5
Dr. 
Well? How did it go?
Fred
Like a house afire! Gorgeous! 
Magnif! Superb! Splendid.
Pretty nice, George! but she takes in this
new part of hers! She's got the town
in a sling (side look at Vivian)
She'll be a millionaire in her 
own right presently. 
(Mrs. C. & Dr exchange smile unseen by others)
Stella
Poor girl she must be dreadfully tired
tho' - Two performances, - so long
Vivian
Tired? Kate's never tired.
 Mrs. C.
(to Dr. aside) She never lets him
know it, if she is. 
(Dr nods)
Dr
(To Stella) I should think
you would be tired enough yourself
missey, Have you had dissipation 
enough for one day?
Fred
No indeed (rings) She wants one6
of Kate's [?]./It is as far to 
drive up home.
(enter servant
Mrs. C gives order in show)
Dr
You want to go to the Academy?-
Fred
Precisely.
Dr
To the ball?
(exit servant.)
Stella
You are right papa.
Dr
'Tis preposterous.
Stella
(business)  Just for an hour?
It will be such fun,
Dr
No. No.
Mrs C.
(coming down) Nonsense, Let 
her go, Fred is as good as a 
duenna. Why should you 
begrudge any pleasure to 
youth? It is gone quickly 
enough - an its good times 

7
with it.
Dr
Young people are to do just what 
they like?
Stella and Fred
Of course.
(enter servant with wrap)
(Mrs C takes it)
(exit servant)
Mrs. C
Here it is.- They like little 
enough the most they have to 
do when it is gone. (Stella 
has been putting it on) go along-
Fred
You [*amateur*] are an angel. [*professional, not*]
Mrs C
A human one then.
Dr
But.
Vivian
Don't try to argue with her Doctor. 
You'll spend breath to no profit.  
You know she always gets the best 
of you. XL
Fred
(shaking head) That she does.8.
Mrs. C.
(with a little push to both)
go along.
Stella
(looking off)
In a minute.
Fred
Here she comes.
Stella
Don't she look like a love!
(enter Kate laughing
tosses wrap to maid
twirls her train round &c)
Kate
isn't it.
(going to her father-business)
Well (looking round)
Children?
(Flowers)
Fred
To the Academy
Kate
for me. by. by.
Both
By. by
Stella
Till tomorrow.
(exit Stella & Fred)

9.
(Kate goes to table, busies herself
through talk with glass, two bottles
&c)
Kate
him?
(he smiles and dissents &c)
lark? (assents)
tired?
Vivian
A little tired
Kate
a lamb.
Dr.
 (Watching her) What is your compound?
Kate  
(mixing)
& champagne 
(laughingly)
it's acquaintance.
Dr.
(affecting severity) It's not good
for him.
Kate
he likes.
Dr.
Even if it kills him I suppose.
That's a woman for you. She first10
helps a man to his fall,  &
then cries over him when he's 
down.
(she makes a mow at him 
as she goes life to her father,)
you are impertinent, Miss.
Kate: 
slanderous (by father)
Mrs C.:  
(coming down)
Does it hurt him Dr?
Dr: 
Hurt him? Nonsense. It's sloped
she makes for him. It couldn't 
hurt a grasshopper. It pleases 
him to hear her fight for him. 
It's worth while to give her the opportunity. 
Mrs. C: 
(similes, assents) You are right.
(goes)
Kate:
(coming)
today, Dr.?
Dr.
Yes. & you do not need to trouble 
about the appointment for

11
Monday, if you say yes to the 
proposition of yesterday.
Kate
say yes.
Dr.
I will tell him so tomorrow. (takes 
out paper) You are to look over 
this schedule. (she nods) That 
takes the roof (looking around) 
from over you.
Kate
(gaily)
Another one.
Dr.
My poor girl, how are you to carry 
all this further. When all is covered 
that can be covered by what 
has been - even this (looks round) 
gone,  - the truth known by the 
world, to do what you have set yourself 
to accomplish, will tax your
earnings.
Kate
sneezed at.
Dr.
It is out of reason, why could you 
not do like the rest of the world -12
Make No 1. your prize number
in life's lottery? - instead of
parting with all for an idea!
earning money by hard toil for
an idea! - & making yourself
a beggar in the end. (Mrs C. comes)
Kate
More pleasure!
Mrs C.
If there is any doubt of it - ask 
his patients.
(Kate goes up, as Mrs C
speaks. Laughing. Mrs C.
goes.)
Kate
right Papa?
Vivian
Of course it is right. Everything
is right. My Kate does.
Kate
(leans over & kisses his forehead)
flatterer!
(takes glass)
little more?
Vivian
Just a mouthful - since you mix
it.
(Kate goes to table)

13
Kate
(pouring)
mouthful?
(takes it to him)
there. 
(goes back passing by Dr.)
his murderer.
Dr
Enough! Enough! - Dont talk
my head off! - Give me some of
[of] your mess. 
I want it to wash down a lump in 
my throat. - God bless you my
dear. - And he will. I know
that much of His ways - 
(Mrs C) if I am a
heathen and an infidel as your
Aunt Charlotte kindly remarked
awhile ago. (looking round seeing
Mr Vivian rising) Are you off
Laurence?
(Kate goes up, takes
her father's arm)
Kate
we are off-
(go up )
Vivian
Good night.14
Dr.
And pleasant dreams
(exit Kate & Vivian)
I am going to devour some more of
Kate's compound. 'Tis good medicine.
Mrs C.
(at ) Here is better,
(looking off)
Dr.
What's that? (pausing with bottle)
Mrs C.
My favorite. He is better than mine
anytime. You can take care of him
'till Kate comes back.
(Mrs C. exits)
Dr
(putting down bottle) Alleyn?
Bless my soul! The boy has the
fever - bad! - He comes every evening - 
What an old fool I am
to fret about her future.
(business with schedule.)
He'll take care of it, and (laughing
& slapping his knee.)
What a jolly enterprise the
money will be. Yes there is no
doubt in the world as Fred says

16-
Money is money. - 
(enter Cromarty) Very much so. - 
(turns with affected surprise)
Ah, it is you is it? - 
Cromarty
Why not?
Dr.
You come in as though you were at
home. - I thought you one of
the family. - Did you look in at
the play this evening? -
Cromarty
Yes.
Dr
Great crowd?
Cromarty
Of course.
Dr
New play goes beautifully - (Alleyn
goes to fire. business afterwards.)
The part fits her like a glove.
(Cromarty digs fire.) I will find out.
It has his ear marks. He loves
her enough to do anything. -
(to Cromarty) Whoever wrote that
piece knew her like a book. - 
(C. Business) He must have studied
her to the last dot of an i & cross16 
of a t (Cromarty business) Is it out
yet who wrote it?--
Cromarty 
Rempal refuses to tell.
Dr 
Can you tell?
Cromarty 
I?- (business) you compliment
my discernment. How should I tell?
(business - aside)
My flowers! -
Dr 
(aside)I know that [that] he wrote
it. (to Cromarty) Can it by chance 
be Reirdon?
Cromarty.
(violently) He!
Dr 
He has a deal of capacity. - Satan's
no fool - & is noted for taking care 
of his own & there is no mistake
that Reirdon  is one of the pet
members of his family.
Cromarty 
(with great feelings) I thought
you said whoever wrote that piece
knew her - & to know her is to

17 
love her. Certainly such a man as
he  could never  really love.
Love! You desecrate its name
to speak it with that of such a 
scoundrel  as he!
Dr 
Alleyn! What has happened?
You speak with such fury! 
What has he said? What done. 
Cromarty
Done?  such serpents as he do
nothing  - at least nothing
(business) - at least nothing
(business) that you can take 
hold of & strangle out of existence. 
Said? Again nothing (business) 
that you can fasten on him &
pin both  to the wall.
Dr 
He has not dared  to try to harm her
?- No. no. That is a depth of
baseness not to be thought of!
He has pursued her, persecuted 
her, with his affection of indifference 
and his undertow of passion 
'till she must hate him. -
And he sneers  always of
course. But that his bad heart18
& hurt vanity should ever talk 
against her
Cromarty
Talk! No, I wish he would talk.
 A man can be held responsible
 for straight talk--but 
insinuation?--the lie of a smile, 
of a sneer, of a lift, of the eyebrow, 
of a turn of the hand, 
of a side-long glance of the eye, 
the lie that is impalpable, 
intangible, a breath in the
 air, to sieze which is like 
tying the sands, or grasping 
the water as it runs by - that 
is the most deadly in it effects -
& the most dastardly & damnable
 in itself of all the lies told
 in the world & that is
 his kind.
[*Bell*]
Reirdon
(without) She is home then?
Servant
(without) Yes sir. She will be 
down presently
Dr
He? He will do this & yet come
 here!



19
Cromarty
Of course. (business of Reirdon 
during speech.)
Such men as he dare to stab a 
woman's fair fame to death
on the streets, at the clubs
 while they smile in her face, 
& bow over her hand when they 
meet as though she were the 
princess & they her sworn knights 
in a fairy tale
Reirdon
(lounging down) Who is the 
princess? and who her sworn 
knights? Our fair hostess? & 
every man who enjoys her fine
 art -  by chance?_
Dr
Since when did you discover it?
It is not so long ago I remember your 
denial of any artistic power on her
 past.
Reirdon
Ages ago, my dear sir, ages ago, 
measured by experience. She 
has changed so much since 
October, in looking at her one20
sees only the actress & entirely 
forgets the lady. Which is of 
course what she desires. 
Dr.
Which is of course what no lady 
ever desires. 
Reirdon
Artistically? Professionally? 
Surely if she had bee satisfied 
with her social distinction she 
would not have jeopardized it 
by this ontre outbreak. 
Dr.
She had a motive (pauses 
abruptly. business afterward.)
Reirdon
 (business) Assuredly
All the world can see it. 
Tis self evident. Love of admiration, 
love of notoriety, the professional
 instinct. All the curb of habit 
and surroundings could not restrain 
it. Curious -- very -- these vagaries 
of genius & temperament. 
Decidedly interesting for a student 
of character and human nature 
(business for Dr. and Cromarty 
through Reirdon's speech)

21
Cromarty
And one in eminently good taste 
to pursue while wearing the 
mask of a friend
Reirdou
Do you know if I wished to 
say it I could call you remark
 impertinent.
Cromarty
Do you know if you don't 
it is a good deed for a man
 to tell you that your remark 
was brutal.
Reardon
Do you wish to quarrel?
Cromarty
I [mean] wish to say that the man who 
speaks of a woman  by innuendo, 
in such fashion as he 
would not dare to speak to her 
face & yet claims her hospitality
 & professes himself her 
friend is a coward or worse. 
If you see any cause for quarrel 
in the saying, speak out. 
Reirdon
Might one ask by what right22
you constitute yourself the lady's
champion? Are you selected? -
or self elected.
Cromarty.
By the right every Mother's son 
has to defend any member of 
his mother's sex when she needs 
a champion.
Reirdon
(business) No more? — My
dear sir / if a woman makes 
herself the property of the public /
any member of the public can 
dissect her as he [he] pleases.
You have your judgement. I mine,
If any man who has the right 
to take offense at it calls me 
to account, I am ready to respond
Certainly it is not as her 
father, or brother, or husband
you speak. — Can it be
as her friend? —
Cromarty
(business. Almost whispering)
You are speaking of
the woman I love — who 
will be my wife — If you



23
speak again in —
Reirdon
(interrupting) Pardon, - 
your wife? - A thousand parsons
My dear Mr Cromarty / if I had 
had a suspicion I was trespassing
on personal feelings
I would have been dumb. - 
How was I to know? - The
engagement is a secret? of 
course (Cromarty, business — )

Bad for her professionally, To be
announced I suppose at the 
end of the season, yes.
Dr
You had better say no more. [*takes stage L*]
Reirdon
Meaning if I stay I will intrude
on time that could be filled 
with more agreeable conversation? 
Very good. (to Cromarty)
I will make my congratulations
later. Make my excuses for me 
to-night. — (going) Adieu.
(exits.)24
Cromarty
My God! What have I done? —
Dr.
No harm
Cromarty
(Walking about in violent agitation)
No Harm? Great Heavens! What
infamy when a man cannot
defend the woman he loves
from such a scoundrel without
doing her worse harm than that
from which he would dare her.
— "Her friend" In such
a voice! To have strangled him
— to fight him would be to
her no service —
Dr.
(Interrupting) The reverse.
Cromarty
But to let him crowd me to
such a speech! — My wife!
How did I dare say it?
& yes what else could I say
when I heard him!
Dr.
Nothing. It was rightly said. It



25
was prophecy. Make it fulfillment.
Cromarty
You think I can? — Such audacity
to assert it. Does she love me?
Can she love me? Will she be
my wife?
Dr.
Can she? Does she? Will she? —
My dear boy, they are questions
to be asked by those who don't
know you. You are modest. What
is right. Every lover should be
'till her "yes" makes him
proud. — No. Don't say any
more. I wont hear you. Lose your
speech for her. (aside, as he walks)
Thank God, he is rich, he can do
as he pleases. — (to him)
Thank heavens! You can take
her out of all this.
Cromarty
I hope so. I hope she will let
me. (Kate at door. dumb show)
Whatever splendor or fame a
woman can win from the world
a man who loves her. Would26
rather put her into her grave.
& bury his heart in it. Than leave
her for an hour at its - mercy.
Better for her love & protection
even if is he in poverty & obscurity
than to possess all that fame
can give with the frightful fierce
it exacts in return.
Dr.
You are right Alleyn. With
women, as with nations, the only
happy ones are those
who have no history.
Kate
(Coming down)
— You think so?
Dr.
(nods) I have no time to argue the
point now, miss. He (Cromarty)
will be a brighter antagonist.
(To Kate) I will talk with you
about it tomorrow.
Kate
Tomorrow? (sees & takes up
paper) [Doctor - I will go
now] the time. (fingering
paper)
Not tax you?

2[6]7
Dr.
Nonsense! Of course I have the time.
Kate
(paper)
— Still obligation?
Dr.
Yes, yes. But thank heaven they
will soon be off your shoulders.
(Look of inquiry) I mean, would
be, if affairs would go, as I would
order them.
Kate
As they are.
Dr.
They can, - Could be better, There!
There! I cant waste any more time
on you — good night. (Exits)
Kate
(Calling after)
— Good night.
(Very airily)
— Your Monsieur?
Cromarty
You are going to dismiss me? No —
I beg. Let me stay a little longer
(very earnestly) I have something28
to say to you.
Kate
(airily)
— not keep?
Cromarty.
It is better said now. It can
soon be said.
(comes to her Kneels beside her
or, bows low over the back of 
her chair, taking her hand.)
I love you.
Kate
—ah - (business)
—my gown.
Cromarty
What part did you put on with
this? Not yourself, surely tho'
it is your home one.
Kate
— should it be?
Cromarty
You have eyes that know the
truth / when they see it./ You have
ears / that can tell its ring / when they
hear it. Love looks at you, / speaks
to you, / & the some one / who stands
there in your stead / turns it to

         29
riducule & laughs it to scorn.
This is not you. 
Kate
— for real things.
Cromarty
And you think you will find
there any more real thing
than love? life's foundation,
life's hope, life's immortality, 
Since it is in love we live even
where we are dead.
Kate (blows on fingers)
So it goes.
(She throws herself gaily
into chair, thro' his speech
she reveals to the house
how much she is moved.
At his "no she is turning
yielding, when her hand
falls on the schedule.
She grasps it, recovers, hold
it till the close of the scene)
Cromarty
You do not mean one word you say.
You are a woman,/ not a doll
You have a heart,/ & one not easily30
satisfied. Society? Adulation? -
The world? No. True happiness
for you can come but from one
cause.
Kate
enough! 
(starting up gaily. afterwards
an Piano)
Goodnight
(going up with him)
(exit Cromarty)
(laughing)
(laughs tears on her
(dress & her letter
(laughing
oh. Alleyn. father, oh,
(faints)
Curtain
End of Act 3.