Hossefrosse.[Coming into view from the right hallway] Good evening, everybody!
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Turning to him, from Mrs. Ritter, with whom she has been discussing the changein the manuscript] Oh, good evening, Mr. Hossefrosse. [They shake hands.]
Mrs. Ritter.Mr. Hossefrosse. [Mrs. Pampinelli comes forward into the room again, bringing the manuscript with her.]
Hossefrosse.Mrs. Ritter—good evening. [Mrs. Ritter asks him if he will have a glass of claret and he says yes, so she proceeds to fill him out one.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.I hope the rest of the people aren’t far behind you.
Hossefrosse.Are we late?
Mrs. Fell.[Waving to him] Hello, Huxley.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Not very.
Hossefrosse.Hello, Nelly. How are you? [Mrs. Ritter gives him the claret, and he stands up at the center-door with her, drinking it. Teddy Spearing wanders in from the right hallway.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Passing below the little table below the piano and laying the manuscript on it] Here’s the manuscript, Nelly. [She continues to the arm-chair below the casement-window, and, picking up her note-book from the little table at her right, sits down and commences to make notes.]
Mrs. Fell.[Seeing Teddy Spearing, and starting towards the right partition] Oh, Teddy Spearing!
Teddy.Hello, Nelly.
Mrs. Fell.[Beckoning him with her fan] Come here, dear, I’ve got something to tell you. [Teddy leans over the partition at the right and Nelly kneelson the partition-seat and whispers something to him. Hossefrosse and Mrs. Ritter are conversing in the center-door, Mrs. Pampinelli is making notes down at the right, Ritter is standing over in front of the mantelpiece, smoking, and Spindler is standing just below him, to his left, watching him.]
Spindler.[In a sudden surge of courage, and taking a rather nonchalant step towards Ritter] Could you spare one of those cigars, please? [Ritter looks at him keenly, then reaches in his vest-pocket for a cigar.]
Ritter.Do you smoke?
Spindler.Semi-occasionally, yes. [Ritter hands him the cigar and he steps nonchalantly back to his former position, Ritter keeping one eye on him. He examines the cigar curiously, and, being apparently very near-sighted, seems to have considerable difficulty in deciphering the band-inscription.]
Ritter.You can lighteitherend of it.
Spindler.[Very self-conscious] Yes,—I was just looking at this label here: it’s rather keen. [He puts the cigar in his mouth, and attempts an attitude of careless detachment.]
Ritter.Have you got a match?
Spindler.I don’t—[As he opens his mouth to speak the cigar falls on the floor, and he scrambles after it.]
Teddy.[Laughing incredulously and turning away from Nelly] Oh, Nelly!
Mrs. Fell.Upon my word, dear! Come heretill I tell you. [Teddy returns to the partition and Nelly proceeds with her gossip.]
Spindler.[Straightening up, and attempting another man-of-the-world attitude] I don’t care to smoke just now, thank you. [He holds the cigar in his fingers.]
Ritter.[As things settle again] You’ve been in the army, haven’t you?
Spindler.[Turning to Ritter with a suggestion of military erectness] Yes; I put in the better part of three months down at Upton, in the Personnel.
Ritter.I imagined from your salute you’d been around one of the camps.
Spindler.Yes,—I was Third Lieutenant down there—[Ritter looks at him sharply; then Spindler turns and meets the look.] Regimental Sergeant Major.
Ritter.Rest.
Mrs. Fell.[Coming away from the partition] So I’m going to ask him right out the very next time I meet him. [She comes down to the little table below the piano again. Mr. Hossefrosse comes through the center-door towards Ritter, rubbing his hands, and Teddy moves over towards Mrs. Ritter, who is still officiating at the punch-bowl.]
TeddyandHossefrosse, speaking together.
Teddy.[Speaking to Mrs. Fell] Maybe he doesn’t know it himself.Hossefrosse.[Addressing Ritter]Ah, Mr. Ritter! How do you do, sir? [They shake hands.]
Teddy.[Speaking to Mrs. Fell] Maybe he doesn’t know it himself.
Hossefrosse.[Addressing Ritter]Ah, Mr. Ritter! How do you do, sir? [They shake hands.]
Ritter.How do you do?
Mrs. FellandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Fell.Well, I’m going to find out, whether he does or not.Hossefrosse.[To Ritter] Decided there was no place like home, eh? [He laughs, with a mirthless effusiveness.]
Mrs. Fell.Well, I’m going to find out, whether he does or not.
Hossefrosse.[To Ritter] Decided there was no place like home, eh? [He laughs, with a mirthless effusiveness.]
Ritter.Are you in the show, too? [Mrs. Ritter fills out a glass of claret for Teddy.]
Mrs. FellandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Fell.I should say he is in it.Hossefrosse.We’re all in it.
Mrs. Fell.I should say he is in it.
Hossefrosse.We’re all in it.
Mrs. Fell.He’s the leading man. [Hossefrosse raises his right hand toward Nelly and laughs deprecatingly.] Unfortunately, there isn’t a place in the play where he can use that perfectly gorgeous singing-voice of his. [Hossefrosse is quite overcome, and crosses, with hand extended, to Spindler.] It’s true.
Hossefrosse.Good evening, Mr. Spindler.
Spindler.Good evening, good evening. [In shifting the cigar from his right hand to his left he drops it.]
Hossefrosse.Uh! I beg your pardon! [Mrs. Ritter laughs at something Teddy has said to her, then hands him a glass of claret. Mr. Hossefrosse stoops to pick up Spindler’s cigar.]
Spindler.[Stooping also, after the cigar] That’s all right.
HossefrosseandSpindler, together.
Hossefrosse.I’ll get it. [He picks it up and hands it to Spindler.]Spindler.It isn’t lit.
Hossefrosse.I’ll get it. [He picks it up and hands it to Spindler.]
Spindler.It isn’t lit.
Hossefrosse.There we are.
Spindler.Thank you very much.
Hossefrosse.Don’t mention it. [He crosses down to Nelly, who is looking through the manuscript at the table below the piano.]
Teddy.[Coming through the center-door and speaking to Ritter] How do you do, Mr. Ritter?
Ritter.[Shaking hands with him] How are you?
Teddy.[Nodding to Spindler] Good evening.
Spindler.Good evening, sir; good evening.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Teddy!
Teddy.[Crossing towards the piano] Yes?
Mrs. Ritter,Mrs. PampinelliandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Ritter.[Waving her handkerchief toward the right hallway] Hello, Florence!Mrs. Pampinelli.[Addressing Teddy] Did you telephone that man about those tickets?Hossefrosse.[Standing at Mrs. Fell’s left shoulder] What are you doing, Nelly?
Mrs. Ritter.[Waving her handkerchief toward the right hallway] Hello, Florence!
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Addressing Teddy] Did you telephone that man about those tickets?
Hossefrosse.[Standing at Mrs. Fell’s left shoulder] What are you doing, Nelly?
Florence,Mrs. FellandTeddy, together.
Florence.[Out in the right hallway] Am I the last? [She hurries into view and whispers something to Paula at the center-door which sends Paula into a fit of laughing.]Mrs. Fell.[To Hossefrosse] Making more changes. [He crosses over to the right in front of Nelly and sits on the piano-stool, back of Mrs.Pampinelli.]Teddy.[Answering Mrs. Pampinelli] Yes, I did, Mrs. Pampinelli, he said he’d have them there all right.
Florence.[Out in the right hallway] Am I the last? [She hurries into view and whispers something to Paula at the center-door which sends Paula into a fit of laughing.]
Mrs. Fell.[To Hossefrosse] Making more changes. [He crosses over to the right in front of Nelly and sits on the piano-stool, back of Mrs.Pampinelli.]
Teddy.[Answering Mrs. Pampinelli] Yes, I did, Mrs. Pampinelli, he said he’d have them there all right.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Thank you so much. [Teddy goes up and crosses above the piano, where he engages Mr. Hossefrosse in conversation.] Hello, Florence! [Jenny comes into view from the right hallway.]
Florence.[Coming straight forward from the center-door] Am I the last? [The front door-bell rings again, and Jenny turns and goes back into the right hallway again.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.No, but you’re very close to it. How are you, dear?
Florence.Rushed like mad. [Flipping her lynx muff] Hello, everybody. Hello, Nelly. [She swings round to her left.]
Mrs. Fell.Hello, Flossie.
Florence.How do you do, Mr. Spindler? [Hossefrosse gets up and whispers something to Mrs. Pampinelli, in which she agrees.]
Spindler.How do you do? [Ritter bows very graciously to Florence, and Mrs. Ritter comes forward to her husband’s right, eating a piece of cake.]
Florence.[Extending the muff at arms-length at Ritter] No, I don’t speak to you at all. [She removes her stole.]
Ritter.What’s the matter?
Florence.Paula, did you know your husband isbecoming very snooty? [Hossefrosse resumes his seat on the piano-stool.]
Mrs. Ritter.[Sliding her hand through Ritter’s right arm] Why didn’t you speak to Florence at the station today, Fred?
Ritter.I didn’t see you today.
Florence.Well, my dear, youmustbe getting old; for Irene Colter and I did everything but stand on our heads to attract your attention. [On the last word of this sentence she flips one of the tails of the stole at him, and he ducks, as though afraid of getting hurt.] Where shall I put these, Paula? [Mrs. Pampinelli rises quietly from her chair at the right, and, lost in thought, proceeds slowly and majestically across in front of Mrs. Fell to the middle of the room, tapping her lead-pencil on the note-book.]
Mrs. Ritter.I’ll take them. [She takes the muff and stole from Florence and goes up and out into the right hallway with them.]
Florence.[Espying Teddy up back of the piano, shading his eyes with his hand, as though trying to see her from a great distance] Hello, Teddy dear! [Goes towards him] What are you doing away back here in the corner? [She makes a sudden move as though to tickle him in the ribs, but he laughs and jumps away. Mrs. Pampinelli has by this time reached the center of the room, where she stands turning from side to side in a profound indecision as to the relationship of certain positions. She indicates her line of thought by diverspointings and flippings of the lead-pencil. Ritter watches her with narrow amusement; and, presently, Mrs. Fell, who is still occupied with the manuscript at the little table, looks up, distracted by the gyrations of the lead-pencil.]
Mrs. Fell.What’s the matter, Betty?
Mrs. Pampinelli.I was just wondering about a little piece of business here.
Spindler.[Stepping to the back of the arm-chair at the left and leaning over it towards Mrs. Pampinelli] Can I help you, Mrs. P.?
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Without turning to him] No, thank you; it’s purely technical. [He resumes his position at the left corner of the mantelpiece and glances at Ritter, who is obliged to use his handkerchief to hide his amusement. Mrs. Ritter comes in through the door at the right, above the piano.]
Mrs. Fell.Betty, did I tell you I saw Clara Sheppard today? [But Mrs. Pampinelli is still deep in technical profundities, and simply silences her with a gesture of her right hand.]
Mrs. Ritter.[Coming forward at the right of the piano] Where did you see her, Nelly?
Mrs. Fell.Darlington’s, at the mourning counter.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Coming suddenly out of her abstraction, and turning to Mrs. Fell] Is she going in black?
Mrs. Fell.My dear, she’sinit already.
Twiller.[Coming in the right hallway] Good evening!
Mrs. Pampinelli.She’s very foolish, under the circumstances.
Mrs. Fell.That’s just what I told her today.
Twiller.[Coming through the center-door and forward at the left of the piano] Good evening, Mrs. Ritter.
Mrs. Ritter.Good evening, Mr. Twiller.
Twiller.[To Hossefrosse, casually] Huxley.
Hossefrosse.[Shifting from the piano-stool to the arm-chair, which Mrs. Pampinelli has just vacated, and proceeding to study his part, which he has taken from his pocket] Hello, Ralph.
Mrs. Fell.Hello, Ralph.
Twiller.Nelly!
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Still in the middle of the room] You’re the ten o’clock scholar again tonight, Mr. Twiller. [Jenny crosses from the right hallway to the left, and goes out.]
Twiller.I’m awfully sorry, Mrs. P., really; but the fates seem to be against me. [Teddy gives a little whistle at him. He turns and sees him, standing with Florence, up back of the piano.] Hello, Teddy! [He goes towards him, and Teddy shoots at him with his thumb and forefinger, by way of reply. Florence smiles and extends her left arm and hand towards him.]
Mrs. PampinelliandTwiller, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Moving over from the middle of theroom to the left of Mrs. Fell, who is still at the table below the piano] What was that you were saying, Nelly, about Clara Sheppard?Twiller.Flossie, dear, I didn’t see you two up here! [He takes Florence’s hand and kisses it. Then he crosses to the left and shakes hands with Ritter; then over to Spindler, and then starts back towards Florence, at the piano. As he passes Ritter, Ritter taps him on the right shoulder; he turns, and Ritter asks him something. He replies, and they stand chatting for a moment; then Ritter indicates the partition-seat behind them and they sit down, to talk it over.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Moving over from the middle of theroom to the left of Mrs. Fell, who is still at the table below the piano] What was that you were saying, Nelly, about Clara Sheppard?
Twiller.Flossie, dear, I didn’t see you two up here! [He takes Florence’s hand and kisses it. Then he crosses to the left and shakes hands with Ritter; then over to Spindler, and then starts back towards Florence, at the piano. As he passes Ritter, Ritter taps him on the right shoulder; he turns, and Ritter asks him something. He replies, and they stand chatting for a moment; then Ritter indicates the partition-seat behind them and they sit down, to talk it over.]
Mrs. Fell.Why, I simply told her—I said, “Don’t be spectacular, dear; it’ll only make it more difficult for you when you want to marry again. And,” I said, “you probablywillmarry again,”—[Spindler sits on the chair below the door at the left.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Of course she will.
Mrs. Fell.“For you’re a comparatively young woman. So,” I said, “just get through the next few months as undramatically as possible. [Jenny enters in the left hallway and takes empty glasses off.] I know he was yourfirsthusband, and all that; but, after all,” I said, “he wasonlyyour husband: it isn’t as though you’d lost someone who was verycloseto you”—[She turns her head and speaks directly to Mrs. Pampinelli.] Like one of your own people, [Turning to Mrs. Ritter, who is standing at her right] or something like that, I mean. “And,” I said, “another thing, darling,—alwaysremember—he’d have very soon put another inyourplace if it had been you.” [She finishes the remark to Mrs. Pampinelli.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Knowingly, and with conviction] I should say he would.
Mrs. Fell.[Reaching for her hand-bag] And I felt like saying, “And I could give you the names and addresses right now ofseveralthat he would have put in your placelong ago, only for the law.”
Mrs. Pampinelli.[With a shade of confidence] She must have known it.
Mrs. Fell.[Reflecting the tone] Ofcourse, she knew it. [Florence leaves Teddy, up at the piano, and crosses to Ritter and Twiller, to show them a piece of music. They rise, and she indicates a certain point on the sheet; then she continues down to Spindler, who rises at her approach, and shows it to him.]
Mrs. Ritter.How is she, Nelly?
Mrs. Fell.My dear, she looks a perfect wreck. [Florence sits on the arm of the arm-chair at the left and Spindler resumes the little chair below the left door, and drawing it a bit closer to the arm-chair. He appears to be telling Florence something very interesting.]
Mrs. Ritter.Poor soul.
Mrs. Fell.She says no one willeverknow how she feels—about losing that part. And she says she simply cannotwaituntil tomorrow night, [She turns to Mrs. Pampinelli.] to see Paula’s interpretation of it. [Mrs.Ritter gives an inane little laugh, and Mrs. Fell turns quickly to her.] She’s heard so much about it. [Jenny comes in from the left hallway again with fresh glasses. She sets them down on the hallway table and proceeds to arrange them.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Is she coming to the performance tomorrow night?
Mrs. Fell.She says she’ll see that performance, if she has to disguise herself.
Mrs. Ritter.Doesn’t that sound just like her? [Nelly nods agreement.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Yes,—she’s so full of dramatic instinct.
Mrs. Fell.[With a touch of bitterness] He never appreciated it though.
Mrs. Pampinelli.My dear, hasanyartisteverbeen adequately appreciated?
Mrs. Ritter.I understand he was very heavily insured.
Mrs. Fell.Oh, yes!
Mrs. Pampinelli.Sheseemedvery optimistic when I spoke to her on the telephone.
Mrs. Fell.I believe your husband’s company had him insured for quite a lot, didn’t they, Paula?
Mrs. Ritter.[Lowering her tone] I believe they did, Nelly,—but I couldn’t say for just how much.
Mrs. Fell.[Quietly detaching herself] I must find that out. [She passes back of Mrs. Pampinelli and across towards Ritter. Mrs. Ritter and Mrs. Pampinellicontinue in conversation.] Frederick, I want to ask you something. [He steps forward, excusing himself to Twiller.] Pardon me, Ralph.
Twiller.That’s all right, Nelly. [He crosses again to Teddy.]
Mrs. Fell.Frederick, what did you think when you heard Jimmy Sheppard was dead?
Ritter.Why, I thought he was dead, of course. [Mrs. Ritter leaves Mrs. Pampinelli, passing back of her, and goes up to assist Jenny with her arrangements. Mrs. Pampinelli busies herself with making notations on the margin of the manuscript, at the little table.]
Mrs. Fell.[Flipping the tip of her fan in his face] Oh, did you, Smarty! [Ritter raises his right hand, as though to ward off the blow.] Well, listen, Frederick. [He attends, and she becomes confidential.] He left quite a bit of insurance, didn’t he?
Ritter.Yes—about three hundred thousand, I believe.
Mrs. Fell.[Becoming generally stoney] Is there a will, do you know?
Ritter.I don’t know; I suppose there is.
Mrs. Fell.Well, I hope she was sharp enough to see that there is. Because if there isn’t, you know, she’s only entitled to a third in this state. That’s all the widow’s entitled to. And, you know, Frederick, Clara Sheppard could never in this world get along on a bare hundred thousand dollars; you know that as well as I do.
Ritter.Well, she has quite a bit of money of her own, hasn’t she?
Mrs. Fell.Oh, tons of it, yes; but there’s no sense in using her own if she can use his. [Ritter glances at her, but she has turned away slightly to cough, behind her fan. Jenny goes out at the left hallway.] Was sudden, wasn’t it?
Ritter.Yes, it was.
Mrs. Fell.We were terribly inconvenienced. Because I’d simplydelugedmy friends with tickets. [Mrs. Ritter is up at the punch-bowl, sampling the punch and nibbling at the cakes.]
Ritter.I can’t understand why you didn’t postpone the show.
Mrs. Fell.That’s whatIwanted to do; but Mrs. P. here was superstitious.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Catching her name, and straightening up from the manuscript, imperiously] What are you saying about Mrs. P., Nelly Fell?
Mrs. Fell.Why, Frederick was wondering why we didn’t postpone the performance when Jimmy Sheppard died,—andItold him you were superstitious about a postponement.
Mrs. Pampinelli.No, Nelly, I was not superstitious, so please don’t say that I was; I shouldn’t care to have such an impression get abroad.
Mrs. Fell.[Touching her hair] Well, you were something, Betty.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Yes, Nelly, I admit that I wassomething,—but it was not superstitious. I was,—[She looks out and away off, and feels for the word.] intuitive. [She turns her head and looks directly at Ritter, who drops his eyes to the tip of his cigar. Nelly Fell, following Mrs. Pampinelli’s eyes, looks at Ritter also. Then everyone’s eyes shift to Mrs. Pampinelli. Florence turns languidly and looks; and Mrs. Ritter, with a glass of punch in one hand, and a small cake in the other, moves forward, in the middle of the room, and stands looking and listening—and chewing. Hossefrosse steps over to the table behind which Mrs. Pampinelli is standing, and takes the manuscript,—returning with it to the arm-chair, and becoming absorbed in a comparison of a certain page of it with his individual part.] I have struggled so long to inaugurate a Little Theatre Movement in this community, that I had intuitively anticipated the occurrence of some obstacle to thwart me; so that, when the telephone-bell rang, on the night of Mr. Sheppard’s death, I said to myself, before I even took down the receiver, [She plants her lead-pencil on the table and assumes something of the aspect of a crusader.] “Thisis my event. Something has happened—that is going to put my sincerity in this movement to the test. And I must remember, as Mr. Lincoln said at Gettysburg, ‘It is better that we should perish, than that those ideals for which we struggle should perish.’” [She turns her gaze in the direction of Ritter, but Mrs. Ritter is first in the line of vision, with her eyes full of the coast of Greenland,and her mouth full of cake. As she becomes suddenly conscious that Mrs. Pampinelli has stopped talking and is looking directly at her, she meets the look and breaks into an utterly irrelevant little laugh.]
Ritter.It’s a singular thing, but I’ve noticed that invariably there’s afatalityconnected with these amateur performances.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Unfortunately, that is true, Mr. Ritter, I agree with you. But then, we are not dismayed; we have the lessons of history to fortify us; for whenever the torch of essential culture has been raised, [She raises the lead-pencil as though it were a torch.] there has unfailingly been the concomitant exactment of a human life. [She stands holding the torch aloft until the little cuckoo-clock over the door at the left cuckoos the half-hour. Ritter looks at it, and Nelly Fell gives it a glance. Florence, too, turns and looks up. Then Mrs. Pampinelli turns her eyes slowly upon it and withers it with a look.] Well, children, it’s eight-thirty,—[She gathers up her train and tosses it across her left arm, then comes around to the right in front of the table where she has been standing. Mrs. Ritter returns to the table in the hallway and sets down her empty glass. Ritter goes up after her and she fills him out a drink. Florence rises from the arm of the chair, and, passing in front of the table at the left, goes up and across back of the piano and out the door, at the right. As she passes above the piano she says something to Teddy, who has come down at the rightof the piano, from his late position up near the door, and is crossing below it. Twiller turns and goes out through the center-door and stands leaning over the partition in the right hallway. Hossefrosse rises, settles his clothes and clears his throat. Mr. Spindler, also, has risen, and is replacing his chair back against the wall, below the door.] Time we went “unto the breach” once more.
Mrs. Fell.[Stepping forward a little to the center of the room, and stretching her hand towards Mr. Hossefrosse] You have my props, Huxley.
Hossefrosse.[Crossing below the table, to give her the manuscript] I beg your pardon, Nelly; I was just looking at something here.
Mrs. Fell.Thanks. [She pulls him towards her and whispers something.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Standing at the left of the little table] Have you my other pencil, Mr. Spindler?
Spindler.[Hurrying across towards her] I believe you left it over here on this little table. [He passes below Teddy, who is just crossing to the left, and continues on between the piano and the table to the little table below the casement-window. Nelly Fell breaks into a shrill giggle, pushes Hossefrosse towards the center-door, and crosses to the left, passing below the table. She is in a violent state of laughter. Hossefrosse goes on up to the center-door, and, excusing himself to Ritter, who is standing there drinking, passes out into the right hallway. Teddy comes around backof the arm-chair at the left and sits in the arm-chair. Mrs. Pampinelli has moved to the right of the table below the piano, where she stands reviewing her notes.]
Mrs. Fell.[To Teddy, confidentially, as she takes up her position on the chair below the door at the left] I’ll tell you later. [She sits down.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Tapping her lead-pencil on the table and addressing them generally] Now, folks,—[Ritter sets his glass on the table and steps into the right hallway, where he converses with Twiller for a second, then stands listening; while Mrs. Ritter hurries in and settles herself on the partition-seat at the left and listens attentively.] you understand, of course, that the setting will be just as it was at the Civic Club on the fourteenth; only, of course, as you know, the stage at Hutchy Kutchy is considerably larger. That, however, need not concern us particularly, as the entrances and exits will be relatively the same. [She finishes this speech to Mr. Spindler, who is standing at her right, waiting for her to take the lead-pencil.] Oh, thank you, Mr. Spindler. [She gives him the one she has—simply an exchange of pencils, and he salutes and returns to a position below the casement-window. Florence comes in at the right door again, wearing her furs, and comes down at the right of the piano. Mrs. Pampinelli moves a little towards the center-door.] Are you going to watch the rehearsal, Mr. Ritter?
Mrs. Fell.Of course, he is!
Ritter.[Coming through the center-door] If I wouldn’t be in the way.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Not at all,—very glad to have you.
Mrs. Fell.He can sit over here with the promptress. [He crosses towards Nelly, picking up the little chair above the table at the left, as he passes. Hossefrosse emerges from the right hallway carrying a light, soft hat, a cane and gloves, and stands in the center-door. Florence steps across below the piano and asks Mrs. Pampinelli something.] If you can behave yourself. [Florence returns to the corner of the piano nearest the window and drapes herself on it. She’s a very gorgeous-looking thing, in a sleeveless gown of canary-colored metallic silk, made quite daringly severe, to exploit the long, lithe lines of her greyhound figure. There’s a chain-effect girdle with the dress, of vivid jade, worn loose, and an ornament of the same jade on the left shoulder, from which the goods falls in a plain drape down in front of the arm to the bottom of the skirt. She has a perfect shock of hair,—rather striking,—a kind of suspicious auburn; and she has it bobbed. Her slippers and stockings are white.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.You needn’t sit there yet, Teddy, I’m going to run through the last scene first,—
Teddy.[Rising] Oh, all right.
Mrs. Pampinelli.For Mr. Hossefrosse’s lines. [Teddy passes in front of the table at the left and goes up to the center-door and out into the right hallway,where he chats with Twiller and watches the proceedings over the partition. Spindler comes over and asks Mrs. Pampinelli something. Ritter places his chair beside Nelly’s, above it, and sits down, assuming the attitude of a lover.]
Mrs. Fell.[Pushing Ritter’s arm away] Stop it, Frederick Ritter! Paula! [Spindler returns to his post.]
Mrs. Ritter.[Inanely] Behave yourself, Fred.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Now, folks,—[She moves slowly down and across towards the table at the left.] Mr. Spindler will attend to the various cues tonight, and at the performance tomorrow night as well. [Speaking directly to Nelly] So we won’t have to bother about that. [Turning round to her left and addressing the others] He will do all the rapping. [She raps a little.] And he has a little telephone-bell of his own, [She moves across again towards the back of the table at the right.] which he has very kindly tendered the use of. Have you that bell with you tonight, Mr. Spindler? [He holds out a bell and battery arrangement on a piece of wood, having taken it from his pocket immediately she referred to it, and rings it twice.] Splendid. [She passes above the table and comes forward at the right of it, very thoughtfully.] That’s splendid. [Spindler replaces the battery.] Now, children,—[She crosses in front of the table.] I think, first, I should like to take that scene at the finish, between Doctor Arlington and his wife; [She is standing at the leftof the table, speaking directly to Hossefrosse, who is standing in the center-door, with his hat on, at a rather absurd angle, and holding his cane in one hand and his gloves in the other, in a very stilted fashion. Hossefrosse is a terribly well-fed-looking person in dinner clothes, perhaps, thirty-eight years of age,—flamingly florid of complexion, and with an effusiveness of manner that is probably only saved from absolute effervescence by the ponderous counterpoise of his dignity.] there are a few little things in there I want to correct. [Crossing over back of the table at the left towards Mrs. Fell] Page eighteen or nineteen, I think it is, Nelly. It’s the scene at the finish between Mr. Hossefrosse and Miss McCrickett. [Nelly looks for the place, through her lorgnon.] Oh! [Mrs. Pampinelli turns back to the others again.] and one thing more I want to mention, boys and girls, before I forget it. [She takes a funny little coughing spell.] Pardon me. [She coughs again.] Oh, dear me! [She closes her eyes tight and shivers her head.]
Mrs. Fell.Page eighteen did you say it was, Betty?
Mrs. Pampinelli.Eighteen or nineteen, yes. It’s somewhere right in there.
Mrs. Fell.Oh, yes, here it is, I have it.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Turning back to the people, and speaking with careful emphasis] When you are going on and off the stage, be very careful of those little wooden strips that they have across the bottomsof the doors, and don’t trip. [Mrs. Ritter laughs self-consciously and Hossefrosse leans over and says something to her. Florence laughs, and turns and says something to Spindler, and Teddy and Twiller laugh and look toward Mrs. Ritter.]
Mrs. Fell.[Looking out around Mrs. Pampinelli to see Mrs. Ritter] Paula! [Then she sits back, laughing, and says something to Ritter.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.I really think that was what made some of you so nervous at the Civic Club the last time. So, watch it, all of you, for they will probably have just the same thing down at Hutchy Kutchy.—There is perhaps nothing quite so disconcerting as to trip—as one comes on a stage. Going off—is not so bad; but—coming on, I have found that it requires atremendousartist to rise above it. [She starts down towards the table at the right, below the piano.] So, watch it, all of you. Now, is everybody in his place? [She stops below the table and picks up her note-book.]
Mrs. Fell.[Handing Ritter the manuscript and getting up suddenly] Oh, just one moment, Betty! [She teeters across to the table at the right.] I want to get my other glasses—they’re right here in my bag. [She picks up the bag and starts back to her place.] I beg pardon, everybody, but I can’t tell one letter from another without these glasses. [This last sentence culminates in a flighty giggle, for no reason at all, andthen she sits down, and heaves a deep sigh of amusement.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Who has been looking at her steadily]Now, is everybody ready? [Mrs. Fell simply lifts her eyes and looks at her; then proceeds to get her glasses out of the bag.] Use your voices, children, and try to do it tonight just as you are going to do it tomorrow night at Hutchy Kutchy. [She moves a step or two nearer the middle of the room.] Doctor Arlington is still in his office.
Hossefrosse.Yes.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Mr. Rush—
Twiller.[Coming in through the center-door] Yes.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Is just about to make his exit. [He crosses above the piano and stands waiting at the right door. He’s a bald-headed youth, between thirty and thirty-five, in dinner clothes, excessively well-groomed but utterly nondescript.] And Mrs. Arlington is putting on the deadlatch. [Florence straightens up.] All ready, now? [She holds up her hands for a second, then claps them once.] All right. [Twiller goes out through the right door and Mrs. Pampinelli moves over towards the right, watching Florence.]
Florence.[Pretending to put on a deadlatch] Deadlatch.
Spindler.[Standing in rigid military fashion] Click—click. [Florence turns and starts across towardsthe middle of the room, passing between the piano and the table below it.]
Florence.[Glancing toward the center-door] You can come out now, Clyde, they’ve gone. [She continues to the table at the left and stands resting one hand upon it.]
Hossefrosse.[Bustling forward from the center-door, removing his hat as he comes] Anybody here, David? [Spindler whistles shrilly, takes a step forward and tries to attract Hossefrosse’s attention, by holding up his right arm and flicking his fingers at him. Teddy laughs and turns to tell Twiller, who is just rejoining him from the right hallway, what has happened. Florence turns and looks at Hossefrosse, then at Mrs. Pampinelli, who is standing at the right of the table below the piano. Mrs. Ritter gets up and simply staggers laughing through the center-door and out to Teddy and Twiller.]
Florence.[Speaking to Mrs. Pampinelli] That isn’t right, is it?
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Turning to Spindler at her right and holding up her hand] Please don’t whistle, Mr. Spindler! I can’t stand whistling.
Florence.I thought we were going to take thelastscene first.
Mrs. PampinelliandMrs. Fell, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Moving around in front of the table and going near to Hossefrosse] We are takingthelastscenefirst, Mr. Hossefrosse, that is thefirstscene.Mrs. Fell.[Holding up her hand] Wait a moment, wait one moment, just one moment, somebody’s off the track! [Twiller and Teddy laugh again and Hossefrosse turns and looks at them. Twiller shakes his head, flips his hand at him and walks away into the right hallway, as though deploring his stupidity. Ritter begins to laugh.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Moving around in front of the table and going near to Hossefrosse] We are takingthelastscenefirst, Mr. Hossefrosse, that is thefirstscene.
Mrs. Fell.[Holding up her hand] Wait a moment, wait one moment, just one moment, somebody’s off the track! [Twiller and Teddy laugh again and Hossefrosse turns and looks at them. Twiller shakes his head, flips his hand at him and walks away into the right hallway, as though deploring his stupidity. Ritter begins to laugh.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.I thought I had made that sufficiently clear.
Mrs. Pampinelli,Mrs. Fell,SpindlerandTwiller, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli.We are taking the scene at the finish, Mr. Hossefrosse, between you and Miss McCrickett.Mrs. Fell.[Rising] That’s the first scene, Huxley, and we are taking the last scene, between you and Florence, on page nineteen, right here, [She indicates the place in the manuscript].Spindler.[Addressing Teddy] I hope he doesn’t pull anything like that tomorrow night. [He returns to his place below the window.]Twiller.[Coming back into view from the hallway] Don’t weaken, Huxley, you know what they say about a bad rehearsal.
Mrs. Pampinelli.We are taking the scene at the finish, Mr. Hossefrosse, between you and Miss McCrickett.
Mrs. Fell.[Rising] That’s the first scene, Huxley, and we are taking the last scene, between you and Florence, on page nineteen, right here, [She indicates the place in the manuscript].
Spindler.[Addressing Teddy] I hope he doesn’t pull anything like that tomorrow night. [He returns to his place below the window.]
Twiller.[Coming back into view from the hallway] Don’t weaken, Huxley, you know what they say about a bad rehearsal.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Topping them all] Please, children, please!
Mrs. Fell.Down at the bottom of the page.[Mrs. Ritter comes through the center-door again and sits down on the left partition-seat.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Speaking directly to Mrs. Fell] Please—[Mrs. Fell sits down again, slowly, Mrs. Pampinelli looking at her stonily.] Let us have one director, if you please. [She withdraws her eyes slowly, and Nelly darts a bitter look at her.] Now, don’t let us have everybody talking at once; it only confuses people, and wastes a lot of time. [Hossefrosse stands bewildered in the middle of the room. Mrs. Pampinelli addresses him directly, speaking with measured emphasis.] We are taking thelastscenefirst, Mr. Hossefrosse: it is the scene at the finish, between you and Miss McCrickett, just before Paula comes on,—
Hossefrosse.Oh, I beg your pardon!
Mrs. Pampinelli.AndafterMr. Rush has left the stage.
Hossefrosse.I thought we were beginning right from the beginning.
Mrs. Pampinelli.No, I’d like to run through thelastscenefirst, if you don’t mind; there are a few little things in it I’d like to correct.
Hossefrosse.[Turning and starting for the center-door] This was the wrong entrance for that line, anyway.
Mrs. Pampinelli.And you won’t need your hat and cane in this scene.
Hossefrosse.That’s so, too.
Twiller.[Who is standing out just at the right of the center-door] I’ll take them, Hux.
Hossefrosse.[Handing him the hat, gloves and cane] Thanks. [Turning to Mrs. Ritter] I’ll get straightened out after while. [Paula laughs.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Now, Florence dear, will you go back?
Florence.[Crossing back again to the window] Certainly.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Crossing back to the right, in front of the table] And take it right from Mr. Rush’s exit.
Florence.[Looking round at Hossefrosse] Ready?
Hossefrosse.[In the center-door] Yes, I’m ready.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[To Florence] Go on.
Florence.[Repeating her former business of putting on a deadlatch] Deadlatch.
Spindler.[Having again assumed his rigid military attitude] Click—click. [Florence turns and crosses again between the piano and the table.]
Florence.[With a glance at the center-door] You can come out now, Clyde, they’ve gone. [She continues to her former position at the right of the little table at the left. Hossefrosse steps resolutely through the center-door, gives her a wicked look, glances toward the door at the right, then strides forward and plants himself directly opposite her, his head thrown back, his eyes ablaze, and his arms akimbo.]
Hossefrosse.Did you come here to make a scene!
Florence.[Languidly, and without turning] Have I made one?
Hossefrosse.[Getting loud] What are you doing here?
Florence.[Raising her hand to enjoin silence] Sh-sh—[He turns abruptly and looks toward the door at the right; then back to her again.]
Hossefrosse.I want an explanation of this!
Florence.[Turning to him, and rather casually] So do I.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Standing at the right of the table below the piano] Oh, more imperious, Florence dear! [Florence and Hossefrosse look at her.] More of this. [She lifts her shoulders, eyebrows and chin, to illustrate her idea of the general hauteur of the line.] Much more.
Florence.[Vaguely] Don’t you think she would cry there? [Mrs. Pampinelli looks at her steadily for a pause and thinks: then she rests her lead-pencil on the table and tilts her head a bit to one side.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Do you want to cry there, dear?
Florence.No, but I can if you want me to.
Mrs. Pampinelli.No,—personally, I think she’s speaking more in anger than in sorrow. You see, dear, you are impersonating a wronged wife. Now, you yourself, Florence darling, are an unmarried girl:—it is difficult for you to realize how excessively annoyed with her husband a married woman can become.I think I would take it with morelift. More of this, you know. [She repeats her former illustration.]
Florence.[Endeavoring to imitate the manner of delivery, and speaking in a deep, tragic tone] So do I.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Perfect.
Hossefrosse.[Turning to Mrs. Pampinelli] Go on?
Mrs. Pampinelli.Yes, go on.
Hossefrosse.[Clearing his throat and trying to summon his attack] What is your reason for sneaking into my office at this hour?
Florence.Is it necessary that your wife have a reason for coming to your office?
Hossefrosse.You wanted to embarrass Mrs. Rush, that was it, wasn’t it?
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Waving her hand toward them with an upward movement] Tempo, children!
Florence.I wanted to meet my rival.
Hossefrosse.You could have met Mrs. Rush under more candid circumstances.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Moving around towards them, in front of the table] Tempo, children!
Florence.The present ones suited my purposes better.
Hossefrosse.[Turning away impatiently] Naturally!—You wanted a scene! [He starts over to the right, but Mrs. Pampinelli is standing right in his way, so he stops short, but maintains the physical tautness of his character. Florence, too, has turned away, to theleft, and is moving across in front of the table towards the arm-chair.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Oblivious of Hossefrosse, and still making her upward waving gesture over his shoulder] Tempo, Florence! [Suddenly becoming conscious that she is obstructing Hossefrosse’s cross, and stepping below him] I beg your pardon.
Hossefrosse.[Bowing stiffly] Not at all. [He continues over to the right and stops, right in front of Spindler, and they stand looking into each other’s eyes; while Mrs. Pampinelli comes up at the left of the table to the piano.]
Florence.[Sitting down in the arm-chair] I think if I were a scenic woman I’ve had ample opportunity during the last fifteen minutes to indulge myself.
Hossefrosse.[Still looking into Spindler’s eyes] You did I think;—
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Beckoning to Spindler] Mr. Spindler.
Hossefrosse.I had the pleasure of hearing you.
Florence.Was it a pleasure, Clyde?
Mrs. PampinelliandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Still beckoning to Spindler] Mr. Spindler!Hossefrosse.[Whirling around and glaring at Florence] It appears to amuse you! [Spindler steps below Hossefrosse and passes up in front of him to Mrs. Pampinelli, who whispers something to him.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Still beckoning to Spindler] Mr. Spindler!
Hossefrosse.[Whirling around and glaring at Florence] It appears to amuse you! [Spindler steps below Hossefrosse and passes up in front of him to Mrs. Pampinelli, who whispers something to him.]
Florence.[Unfastening her neckpiece] I have an inopportune sense of humor.
Hossefrosse.You should be able to appreciate the situation, you created it!
Florence.[Looking over at him] I didn’t create her husband.
Hossefrosse.[Making a little gesture of annoyance] I’m afraid I’m stuck! [He tries hard to think, and Mrs. Pampinelli makes a gesture toward Mrs. Fell to give him the line, but Nelly is occupied in telling Ritter a story.] But, don’t tell me! [He feels for the line again, and Mrs. Pampinelli tries to attract Nelly’s attention.] I guess I’m gone. [Suddenly Nelly bursts into a fit of laughing, having made the point of the story.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.What is the line, Nelly? [Ritter nudges her.]
Mrs. Fell.[Stopping suddenly in her laughter and hitting him with her fan] Stop that!
Ritter.Get on your job, you’re holding up the show. [Nelly looks excitedly toward Mrs. Pampinelli.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.What is the line, Nelly, please.
Mrs. Fell.What! Oh, I beg your pardon, is somebody stuck?
Mrs. Pampinelli.Mr. Hossefrosse.
Hossefrosse.Got another mind-blank.
Mrs. Fell.Oh, well, now, just wait one minute, please, till I see where I’m at. [She searches franticallythrough the manuscript.] Oh, yes, here it is! [Ritter indicates a place on the page. She pushes his arm out of the way.] I didn’t create her husband. [Teddy and Twiller laugh.]
Mrs. Pampinelli,FlorenceandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli.No, dear, we’ve just passed that.Florence.I’ve already said that, Nelly.Hossefrosse.It’s the next line.
Mrs. Pampinelli.No, dear, we’ve just passed that.
Florence.I’ve already said that, Nelly.
Hossefrosse.It’s the next line.
Mrs. Fell.[Vaguely, and looking through her lorgnon and spectacles at the manuscript] Oh, have we passed that!
Mrs. Pampinelli.The next line after the one you just read.
Mrs. Fell.Oh, I see now where we are! The next line after that is, “You’ve all been listening to a lot of damned, cheap gossip.”
Mrs. PampinelliandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli.That’s it.Hossefrosse.[To Mrs. Pampinelli] That certainly is my Jonah line.
Mrs. Pampinelli.That’s it.
Hossefrosse.[To Mrs. Pampinelli] That certainly is my Jonah line.
Mrs. Pampinelli.You’ve all been list—[Spindler goes around to the right and sits on the piano-stool, looking near-sightedly at the music.]
Hossefrosse.[Turning to Florence, and assuming his character again] You’ve all been listening to a lot of damned, cheap gossip! [He starts to cross towards the left, passing between the piano and the table, butMrs. Pampinelli is right in his way again, so he is obliged to stop short and wait.]
Florence.Which should show you that people are talking. [Mrs. Pampinelli turns to see why Hossefrosse is not picking up his line.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Stepping out of his way] I beg your pardon. [She circles down at the left of the table again.]
Hossefrosse.[Continuing over towards the mantelpiece] My fault. One or two old women, perhaps.
Florence.Will it confine itself to those?
Hossefrosse.[Turning at the mantelpiece and coming back to the middle of the room] Well, I can’t control that.
Florence.Have you tried?
Hossefrosse.[Whirling upon her, and literally shouting] No!
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Standing at the right of the table below the piano] Excellent.
Hossefrosse.[Turning and bowing briefly to her] Thank you very much. [Resuming the scene with Florence] And I don’t intend to. People will always talk; it may as well be at my expense as anybody else’s.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Leaning towards him across the table, and speaking with poisonous sweetness] Anybody’selse, dear.
Hossefrosse.Beg pardon?
Mrs. Pampinelli.Would you say anybody’s else; it sounds better.
Hossefrosse.[Turning back again to Florence]It may as well be at my expense as anybody else’s. [Mr. Spindler’s elbow slips off the piano onto the keyboard, striking a perfectly villainous chord, and causing everybody to turn and look in that direction.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Mr. Spindler, please.
Spindler.[Adjusting his goggles, which have been slightly dislodged by the incident] I’m sorry. [Mrs. Pampinelli turns back to Hossefrosse.] Never mind, Mr. Hossefrosse, it will come.
Florence.Your position can’t afford it.
Hossefrosse.[Taking a step towards the right] I’ve given them nothing to talk about.
Florence.No? [He stops abruptly and turns and looks at her.]
Hossefrosse.What? [He takes a couple of steps towards her.]
Florence.[Rising] Please, Clyde!—[She crosses in front of the table at the left and goes towards him. Mrs. Ritter gets up from the partition-seat and comes down to the table at the right, below the piano.] You’re not talking to your office-boy—[Mrs. Ritter picks up the little chair from the left of the table and starts back again towards the center-door.] Let us get to the point.
Hossefrosse.Very well.
Mrs. RitterandHossefrosse, together.
Mrs. Ritter.—Excuse me, Florence. [Florence bows and smiles.] And you, too, Mr. Hossefrosse.Hossefrosse.What brought you here tonight?[He turns to see the cause of the movement behind him.] Don’t mention it. [Mrs. Ritter places the chair in front of the partition where she has been sitting, then crosses to the piano and gets her sewing-basket, returning with it to the chair and sitting down to sew.]
Mrs. Ritter.—Excuse me, Florence. [Florence bows and smiles.] And you, too, Mr. Hossefrosse.
Hossefrosse.What brought you here tonight?[He turns to see the cause of the movement behind him.] Don’t mention it. [Mrs. Ritter places the chair in front of the partition where she has been sitting, then crosses to the piano and gets her sewing-basket, returning with it to the chair and sitting down to sew.]
Florence.Not to quarrel with you, for one thing.
Hossefrosse.You wanted to embarrass Mrs. Rush, that was it, wasn’t it?
Florence.Not at all,—you misunderstood me; I said, “I wanted tomeetMrs. Rush.” [Teddy comes in through the center-door from the right hallway and sits down on the partition-seat at the right. Teddy is a frail little wisp of a youth around twenty, in dinner clothes. He has big eyes and good teeth, and laughs on the slightest provocation. His forehead is defectively high, and his thin hair is plastered back and brilliantined. His type is always to be found draped upon the banisters or across the pianos in the houses of the rich,—a kind of social annoyance, created by wealthy connections and the usual lack of available men.]
Hossefrosse.What did you want to meet her for? [Twiller steps through the center-door from the right hallway and whispers something to Mrs. Ritter. She answers him, and he steps out into the hallway and fills himself out a glass of claret from the bowl, then goes up and sits on the landing of the stairway and watches the rehearsal.]
Florence.Why, I thought that we three might—reason together, [He holds her eye for a second, thenturns away, and reaches in his various pockets for his cigarettes.] concerning our respective futures.
Hossefrosse.[In a lowered tone, to Mrs. Pampinelli] Forgot my cigarettes.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Never mind, I only want lines. Go on, Florence. [Hossefrosse takes an imaginary cigarette from an imaginary case, replaces the case, taps the cigarette on the back of his hand, puts it in his mouth, strikes an imaginary match on his shoe, and lights the cigarette.]
Florence.I’ve deferred the discussion for a long time, but it may as well be today as tomorrow.
Hossefrosse.Your plan didn’t work out very well, did it?
Florence.Oh, yes, very well indeed; although hardly as I had anticipated; thanks toherhusband andyourlies. [He blows out the imaginary match and tosses it onto the floor at the right; then snaps his head around and glares at Florence. Mrs. Pampinelli glances down onto the floor, as though to assure herself that Mr. Hossefrosse hasn’t really thrown a lighted match onto the carpet.] You’ve evidently told this boy here that Mrs. Rush is your wife.
Hossefrosse.I’ve told him nothing of the kind! [He starts to cross again to the right, but Mrs. Pampinelli is again right in his pathway, standing in front of the table below the piano.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Stepping below him, and going a step or two nearer Florence] I beg your pardon.
Hossefrosse.I beg your pardon. [He continuesover to the table below the window at the right and stands there, pretending to smoke.]
Florence.Then, you’ve allowed him to think so.
Hossefrosse.[Looking straight ahead] That’s business.
Florence.Perhaps it is. It has at least allowed you to be present at the passing of Mrs. Rush. [She turns and goes towards the back. Mrs. Ritter calls her to her and they start discussing the hang of Florence’s skirt.]
Hossefrosse.[Whirling around] You are deliberately misinterpreting this situation! [He starts to move across towards her, passing between the piano and table.] Yes you are! It’s perfectly ridiculous that a physician cannot take a woman patient without being subjected to the whisperings of a lot of vulgar scandal-mongers! [Nelly Fell goes into violent laughter at something Ritter has just finished telling her. Florence and Mrs. Ritter continue their discussion of the dress, and Mrs. Pampinelli tries by dint of gesturing to attract Florence’s attention.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Florence dear, please.
Florence.[Turning suddenly, and continuing her lines] Oh, I beg your pardon! [She moves slowly towards the mantelpiece.] This is not a romantic age, Clyde.
Hossefrosse.Mrs. Rush is a patient of mine!
Florence.[Moving down at the left towards Ritter and Mrs. Fell] She may have been originally.[Mrs. Fell bursts out afresh over something else that Ritter whispers.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Flicking her finger at Nelly] Sh-sh-Nelly.
Mrs. Fell.[To Florence, who is standing looking at her] I beg your pardon.
Hossefrosse.[Standing in the middle of the room] She isnow!
Florence.[Resting one hand on the arm-chair] I’m not disputing it. [He turns away, and stands at the left of the table below the piano.] But she must have a very persistent malady—
Mrs. Fell.Just one minute, Flossie—one minute—
Florence.That hasn’t responded to a treatment of more than six years—
Mrs. Fell.Flossie, Flossie, Flossie! [Florence stops and looks at her.] Just a minute. [She looks sharply at her manuscript.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.What is the matter, Nelly?
Mrs. Fell.Oh, I beg your pardon, I thought she’d omitted a line. [To Florence] I beg your pardon.
Mrs. Pampinelli.Go on, Florence. [Ritter says something to Nelly and she hits him with the manuscript.]
Florence.Not to speak of the innumerable changes of air that she’s enjoyed—[Mrs. Pampinelli, standing over at the right below the piano, takes quite a little coughing spell, and Mrs. Ritter promptly gets up and goes to the punch-bowl to fill her out a glass of punch.]at your expense; and under your personal escort. [Hossefrosse looks over at her. She raises her hand understandingly, and starts slowly across in front of the table towards him.] I have the day and date of the majority of them. So, you see, your chivalry is a bit trying, under the circumstances. [He looks straight ahead and tries to look sullen and defeated.]
Mrs. Ritter.[Up in the center-door, holding aloft a glass of punch] Betty!
Florence.But, I haven’t come here to reproach you, or to plead for your return. Not at all. I think youlovethis woman.
Mrs. Ritter.[Coming a little further forward] Betty! [Mrs. Pampinelli has another coughing spell.]
Florence.And in that case, I want to offer you your freedom—
Mrs. Pampinelli.Careful, now, children. [Mrs. Ritter comes forward to the table at the left and tries to attract Mrs. Pampinelli’s attention to the glass of punch.]
Florence.If you want it.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Holding up her forefinger] One, two, three.
Hossefrosse.[Snapping his head around and shouting at Florence] Well, I don’t want it!
Mrs. Pampinelli.Good!
Hossefrosse.And I see absolutely no occasion for any such talk. [Mrs. Fell drops her bag and reaches for it.]