Hamilton

penny from anyone. Angelica Then why don’t you make him give up working for his old country and let him work for himself and for you? Rising and crossing to back of table L. Father says he could make twenty thousand dollars a year easily as a lawyer in private practice. Betsy Dusting panes of glass. The life of this Republic is dearer to him than anything else in the world. Angelica Oh! Dearer than his wife and family, I suppose? Picking up paper. Betsy There’s no question of that. I know his ambitions and I’m proud to be helping⁠—if it’s only in this way. Angelica Throwing down paper disgustedly. Three thousand dollars a year! How do they expect him to provide for you? The government ought to be ashamed of itself. Shakes steps. Betsy Balancing herself on the top step. If you get so excited at the bottom of these steps, I shan’t need anybody to provide for me. Enter Hamilton, R. door, hat and cane; he carries a rose. Hamilton Slamming door behind him. Betsy Schuyler! Come down at once. What on earth are you doing up there? Betsy Beaming at him. I wanted to get a good view of you as you came in, dear. Hamilton Putting stick against wall R. of bookcase at C. back. Come down, madam, immediately, or I’ll come up and fetch you. Putting hat on bookcase. Betsy Extending both arms invitingly. I dare you to kiss me. He dashes for the steps. Angelica Intercepting him at R. of ladder. Now, if there’s any kissing to be done, you start at the bottom of the ladder. She kisses him. I’ve left my husband in England, and I’m starving to death. Kisses him again. Good morning, Amiable. He kisses her. Betsy I’m coming down. Descends hurriedly. Angelica, laughing, moves to L. Hamilton I hadn’t the heart to refuse her, Betsy. Embraces Betsy fondly. I’ve been starved so long myself. He kisses Betsy and then gives her a rose he has brought with him. They come down stage together, he being on her R. Angelica also comes down on Betsy’s L. Zekiel enters L.; removes ladder on to balcony and exits on balcony toward R. Angelica Well, my duties as overseer being finished, I suppose I ought to go, but as I only got a glimpse of you last night, Amiable, I’m going to stay and share you with Betsy for the next five minutes. Betsy Shall we let her? Hamilton Yes, yes. Let’s be kind to her. Sits sofa; Betsy sits on his L. Angelica Well, the vanity of these men! Now, tell me all you’ve been doing since Betsy went away. Sitting on sofa, R. of Hamilton. Betsy You’ve only got five minutes, you know. Angelica I’ll stay ten. Betsy Even then I am afraid he will have to leave some things out. Angelica Ah! Those are the things I should like to hear. Well, what have you been doing? Hamilton His arm around Betsy. Well, now I’ll tell you⁠—but pay great attention⁠—these are state secrets. Part of my time has been spent in trying to save this country from rack and ruin. Angelica What’s rack? Betsy Order, Mrs. Church. Angelica I know what ruin is. It’s the salary your country pays you for saving it. Hamilton Order in court!! Angelica If you’re the Judge, you’ve no right to be embracing that lady. Betsy is nestling during this. Hamilton I’m not the Judge. I’m only the supporting Counsel. But most of my time⁠— Angelica Ah! Hamilton Removing his arm and turning to Angelica. Most of my time has been spent in trying to find the things that Betsy put away before she went away. Betsy Turning him toward her. Why, Alexander, I put everything in its proper place! Hamilton That’s what caused all the trouble. That’s why I could never find anything, till I had looked everywhere else. Angelica Now, if that isn’t just like John Church! Husbands are all alike. Hamilton Looking at Angelica, then turning to Betsy. You’ve seen her husband, Betsy? Betsy Yes, dear. Hamilton Has she any right to make that statement? Betsy No, dear. Hamilton Am I like her husband? Betsy No, dear! Assuming horror at the thought; Angelica rises. Hamilton Then the court discharges her with a caution. We will proceed with the next case. Folds Betsy in his arms and kisses her. Angelica For which, I presume, no witnesses will be called. Well, I’ll go back to my father. Crossing and taking her shawl. Betsy Oh, don’t go, Angelica. Angelica Turning C. Well, I won’t, because my father’s coming here to fetch me. Moves to door L. But I’ll go into the kitchen and talk to Mary and Zekiel. Hamilton makes movement; rises. Angelica No, don’t leave the bench, Judge. I can open the door of my cell. Exit L., laughing. Hamilton Betsy! Kisses her fondly, then sits, placing his arm around her. Betsy Fondly. You’re a real lover, aren’t you, dear? Hamilton They’ve been long months without you. It seemed as though you were never coming back. Betsy It was dreadful of me to stay away so long. But you know I couldn’t help it. Hamilton You must never, never go away again. Betsy I never will, dearest. She kisses him. But now that I am back, I’m going to be a dreadfully expensive wife. I’m going to take away all your savings. There are no end of things wanted for the house⁠—and of course I haven’t got a rag to my back. Laughs. Hamilton Laughing uneasily. Well, Betsy, we’ll pay a visit to the rag shop first, and the house can wait. Knock ready. Betsy No, no, we’ll do the house first⁠—and I’ll wait. But you must have untold wealth hidden away. Why, there’s two quarters’ salary since I’ve been gone⁠—and no wife to spend it for you.