[_He goes out Left._
STERLING. Blanche, go to your mother and ask her to see Ned to thank
him. I want a minute's talk with him if you don't mind.

BLANCHE. [_Pathetically._] What difference does it make, Dick, if I _do_
mind?

STERLING. Don't say that, old girl, and don't think it.

BLANCHE. Dick, you _are_ honest, aren't you?

STERLING. [_Without flinching._] What a question, Blanche!

[JORDAN _enters Left announcing "Mr. Warden."_ WARDEN _enters, and_
JORDAN _goes out._

[EDWARD WARDEN, _though in reality scarcely younger than_ STERLING,
_looks at least ten years his junior. He is good-looking, practical, a
reasoning being, and self-controlled. He is a thorough American, with
the fresh and strong ideals of his race, and with the feeling of romance
alive in the bottom of his heart._

STERLING. [_In enormous relief, greets him joyfully._] Ned, what do you
think! The greatest news going!

BLANCHE. Dick!

STERLING. Excuse me, Blanche, I forgot; but Ned will know how I can't
help being glad.

[WARDEN _goes to_ MRS. STERLING.

BLANCHE. [_Shaking_ NED'S _hand._] And Mr. Warden knows nothing could
make me "_glad_" to-day. Thank you for all your kindness--

WARDEN. Don't thank me; it was nothing.

BLANCHE. Yes, please let me thank you all I can; it won't be half what I
feel, but I want to know that you know even my silence is full of
gratitude for all you've done for my mother, sisters, and me.

STERLING. Yes, we're all immensely indebted to you, Ned, old man.

BLANCHE. I will tell mother. I know she wants to see you.

[_She goes out Right._

STERLING. [_Speaking with suppressed excitement and uncontrollable
gladness, unable to keep it back any longer._] Ned, my wife's aunt, Miss
Hunter, has put all her business in my hands.

WARDEN. Made you her agent?

STERLING. Yes! What a godsend! Hunter didn't leave a cent.

[_A moment's pause of astonishment._]

WARDEN. What do you mean?

STERLING. It seems he's been losing for a long time. Everything he had
he lost in the copper crash.

WARDEN. But this is awful! What will Mrs. Hunter and her two young
daughters do?

STERLING. I don't know. I hadn't thought of that.

WARDEN. You'll have to think of it.

STERLING. I?

WARDEN. Of course you'll have to help them.

STERLING. I can't! Look here, I didn't tell you the truth about my
affairs last week, when I struck you for that loan.

WARDEN. You don't mean to say you weren't straight with me?

STERLING. Oh, I only didn't want to frighten you till I'd got the money;
if you had made me the loan, I'd have owned up afterwards all right
enough.

WARDEN. Owned up what?

STERLING. That I told you a pack of lies--that I haven't any
security!--that I haven't anything but _debts_.

WARDEN. [_Strongly._] Good things to borrow on! Look here, Dick, how
long have we been friends?

STERLING. Since that day at boarding school when you took a licking for
something I did.

WARDEN. What I mean is we were pals at school, chums at college, stanch
friends for twenty years.

STERLING. Hell! Are we as old as all that?

WARDEN. Inseparable friends till the last two years.

[STERLING'S _eyes shift._

STERLING. I've been overworked lately, and everything has gone wrong!

WARDEN. [_Comes up to him, and speaks firmly but still friendly._] You
_yourself_ have _gone wrong_!

STERLING. [_On the defensive._] What do you mean?

WARDEN. Why did you take your business out of my hands?

STERLING. The law didn't pay me enough. I thought I'd try a little
amateur stockbroking.

[_Smiling insincerely._

WARDEN. You didn't want _me to know_ what you were doing!

STERLING. Rats!

WARDEN. You didn't want me to know what funds--_whose_ funds--you were
using--_mis_using.

STERLING. [_Ugly._] What!

WARDEN. Whose money you were gambling with!

STERLING. Have you been spying on me?

WARDEN. Your _wife's_ money!

STERLING. Well, she's _my_ wife, and you don't know what you're talking
about!

[_He turns from him and picks up a book from the table upside down and
pretends to read it._

WARDEN. You stole from me once when you were a boy!

STERLING. No! I didn't!

[_Throwing the book down._

WARDEN. You lie! Do you hear me? _You lie!_ [_He waits a second._
STERLING _does nothing._] I was never sure till to-day! I fought against
ever thinking it, believing my suspicions were an injustice to you, but
little things were always disappearing out of my rooms--finally, even
money. Lately, that old suspicion has come back with a fuller force, and
to-day it became a certainty.

STERLING. How to-day?

WARDEN. Because if it weren't true, you'd have knocked me down just now
when I called you first a thief and _twice_ a liar!

[_He stands squarely facing him._ STERLING _stands facing him also,
surprised, taken off his guard._

STERLING. Oh, come, you're joking! [WARDEN _makes an angry
exclamation._] Why're you telling me all this now?

WARDEN. Because I want you to be careful. I want you to know some one is
watching you! Some one who knows what you've come to! Some one who knows
you can't resist temptation! Some one who knows money not yours _has_
stuck to your fingers!

STERLING. You mind your own business.

WARDEN. I'll mind _yours_ if it's necessary to protect people who are
dear to me!

[STERLING _looks at him with a sudden suspicion._

STERLING. [_Insinuatingly._] I didn't know you were particularly
attached to Mrs. Hunter.

WARDEN. I'm not.

STERLING. Or to her two unmarried daughters!

WARDEN. Nor am I!

STERLING. [_With whispered intensity._] By God, if you are in love with
my wife!

WARDEN. If you thought that out loud, I'd knock you down!

STERLING. Huh! you talk as if you thought I were a coward!

WARDEN. No, not a _physical_ coward--I've seen you do too many plucky
things--but a _moral_ coward--yes, you are one!

[_Straight to him, standing close and looking him squarely in the eyes._

STERLING. [_Wavering._] Oh, you're too damned preachy!

[MRS. HUNTER _enters Right with_ CLARA. MRS. HUNTER _shakes hands with_
WARDEN _silently, happy in the feeling that she is in great affliction,
and satisfied with the appearance and impression she is making. She
carries her handkerchief, with its black border, ready in her hand._
CLARA _has silently shaken hands with_ WARDEN, _after her mother. She
afterwards goes to_ STERLING _and hands him several of the letters of
condolence. She then goes to the window at Left, pulling aside the
curtain, and stands looking out, rather bored, wishing she could go out
and take a walk._

MRS. HUNTER. We will never forget your kindness. Will the evening papers
have anything in, do you think?

WARDEN. No, not before morning.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Sighs._] Every one was there.

STERLING. Where's Blanche?

MRS. HUNTER. Upstairs. She said she was going after Aunt Ruth.

STERLING. [_Frightened._] After Aunt Ruth? [_Strongly._] What for?

MRS. HUNTER. I don't know. [_Whimpering._] I'm not considered in the
family any longer!

STERLING. I shall stop and take her home.

[JORDAN _enters._

JORDAN. Will you see visitors, madam?

STERLING. No.

[_He goes out Right._

MRS. HUNTER. "No"? Yes, we will! I need to see some one, or I shall
break down. Go upstairs, Clara!

CLARA. No, _why_ need I?

MRS. HUNTER. You're not out yet.

CLARA. I don't care! At this rate I'll never get "out." Who are they,
Jordan?

JORDAN. Miss Sillerton, Miss Godesby, and Mr. Trotter, miss.

WARDEN. I must go, Mrs. Hunter.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Relieved._] So sorry. Could you go straight to Mr. Mason?
He wishes to see you?

[_Shaking hands._

WARDEN. Certainly.

MRS. HUNTER. Thank you.

[WARDEN _inclines his head to_ CLARA.

CLARA. [_Lightly._] Good-by!

[WARDEN _goes out Left._

MRS. HUNTER. I don't think we ought to receive Mr. Trotter.

CLARA. Pshaw! why not? If there's really any idea of my mar--

[_She stops short, silenced by a look from her mother and an indication
toward_ JORDAN.

MRS. HUNTER. Show them up, Jordan. [JORDAN _bows and goes out._] How do I
look, dear?

[_Arranges her handkerchief._

CLARA. [_Looking in the mirror._] How do I?

MRS. HUNTER. [_With her back to_ CLARA.] I asked you first how _I_
looked!

CLARA. [_Not observing._] Oh, you're all right, how am I?

MRS. HUNTER. [_Not looking at_ CLARA.] Charming! We'll go upstairs and
come down again; I don't think it nice to be found here as if we were
expecting visitors.

[_They go out Right._

[JORDAN _steps into the room to announce the visitors, and seeing no one
there, bows as the three pass him._

JORDAN. The ladies will be down at once.

[_He goes out Right._

[_The three turn, looking about the room with curiosity, as if the
funeral might have made some difference in the house._

[MISS SILLERTON _is a handsome, attractive woman, most fashionably
dressed and perfectly conventional in character and intelligence._ MISS
GODESBY _is a little slow, more assertive, sharper of tongue, more
acutely intelligent, and equally smartly dressed. She has still a
remnant of real, sincere feeling buried under a cynical mask which her
life in a fast set has developed for her self-preservation._ TROTTER _is
a foolish young person, meaning well enough according to his lights,
which are not of the biggest and brightest._

TROTTER. Classy house altogether!

MISS SILLERTON. Mrs. Hunter went to the most expensive decorator in
town, and told him, no matter what it cost, to go ahead and do his
_worst_!

[_They all laugh and seat themselves comfortably._

TROTTER. Say! The youngest daughter is a good looker--very classy.

MISS SILLERTON. That's the one we told you about, the one we want you to
marry.

MISS GODESBY. Yes, with your money and her cleverness, she'll rubber
neck you into the smartest push in town!

TROTTER. You've promised I shall know the whole classy lot before
spring.

MISS GODESBY. So you will if you do as we tell you. But you mustn't let
society see that you _know_ you're getting in; nothing pleases society
so much as to think you're a blatant idiot. It makes everybody feel
you're their equal--that's why you get in.

TROTTER. I've got a coach and can drive four-in-hand. I've an automobile
drag, and the biggest private yacht in the world building. I'm going to
have the most expensive house in Long Island, where the oysters come
from, and I've bought a lot in Newport twice as big as the swellest
fellow's there. I've got a house in London and a flat in Paris, and I
make money fly. I think I ought to be a cinch as a classy success.

MISS GODESBY. Don't be a yap; flag Clara Hunter and you're all right!

MISS SILLERTON. Her father's position was the best in this country!

TROTTER. But he's dead.

[_Sitting._

MISS GODESBY. A good thing for you, for he would never have stood for
you!

TROTTER. He'd have had to--or do without me as a son-in-law--I wouldn't
marry the Venus of Milo if her father didn't think I was good enough.
I'm no Dodo bird!

MISS GODESBY. It's up to you now, Trotter! Go in and win.

[_Enter_ TOMPSON _Right; a decided change takes place in all their
manners._

TOMPSON. Madam will be down at once, miss.

MISS SILLERTON. Thank you.

[TOMPSON _goes out Right._

MISS GODESBY. Only stay a minute or two, Trotty--we're doing our best
for you, but we must look out for ourselves, too, and we've come here
to-day on business.

MISS SILLERTON. How'll we ever get the subject on to clothes?

MISS GODESBY. Humph! Do you think you can talk five minutes with Mrs.
Hunter and not hit that topic? It's a bull's eye!

TROTTER. I don't see where I'm going to come into this classy
conversation.

MISS GODESBY. You see, Trotty, they brought over piles of clothes from
Europe this year, and we want to get hold of them before any one else
has a chance--get 'em cheap before they have an idea anybody else'll buy
them.

TROTTER. Who buy what?

MISS SILLERTON. _We_--buy their winter clothes.

TROTTER. For Heaven's sake!

MISS GODESBY. Laugh, you silly! I heard the Reed girls planning to come
to-morrow. They didn't dare come to-day. Those girls haven't any sand!
They're always getting left.

TROTTER. You two _are_ Dodo birds!

MISS GODESBY. I say, Eleanor, you're such a lobster about prices and
Mrs. Hunter's no idiot, we'd better agree on some sort of a signal!
Listen! if you like a gown very much, ask the price, then say to me, "My
dear, your hat pin is coming out." And if I think it's a bargain, I'll
say, "So it is, thank you; won't you put it in for me?" And if I think
Mrs. Hunter's trying to stick you, I'll say "No, it isn't; it's always
like that."

MISS SILLERTON. All right.

[MRS. HUNTER _and_ CLARA _enter Right. The manner of_ MISS SILLERTON
_and_ MISS GODESBY _changes immediately. They speak with rather subdued
voices, in the tone of conventional sympathy which is usually adopted on
such occasions._ MRS. HUNTER _also assumes the manner of a martyr to
grief._ CLARA _is casual and hard._

MISS SILLERTON. [_Shakes hands with_ MRS. HUNTER.] Dear Mrs. Hunter.

[_She kisses her._

Clara, dear.

[_She kisses her._

[MISS GODESBY _goes to_ MRS. HUNTER _and shakes hands while_ MISS
SILLERTON _crosses to_ CLARA; _Trotter shakes hands with_ MRS. HUNTER
_as_ MISS GODESBY _goes to_ CLARA.

TROTTER. I hope you don't think my coming an intrusion.

MRS. HUNTER. Not at all.

MISS GODESBY. I felt we must stop in for a few minutes to give you our
love and sympathy and find out how you are.

MRS. HUNTER. I've been through a terrible strain. My loss is even
greater than I could ever possibly imagine.

CLARA. [_Who misinterprets her mother's remark._] Yes, indeed, I should
say it was!

[MRS. HUNTER _stops her with a warning look._

MRS. HUNTER. But every one has been most kind. _Lady Hopeton_ sent me a
beautiful long letter to-day.

MISS GODESBY. And I'm glad to find you looking so well. Black _suits_
you!

[_She exchanges a knowing glance with_ MISS SILLERTON.

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, I don't know, Julia; I've always thought black very
_trying_ for me.

MISS GODESBY. Oh, _no! every one's_ saying _just_ the reverse!

MRS. HUNTER. But--I suppose clothes don't interest you, Mr. Trotter?

TROTTER. Oh, yes, they do, out of sight!

CLARA. Well, I wish you could have seen the beautiful things we brought
over with us!

MISS SILLERTON. Julia and I were just speaking about it, and pitying you
from the bottom of our hearts.

[MISS SILLERTON _and_ MISS GODESBY _again exchange surreptitious
glances._

MRS. HUNTER. Every one's been most kind.

[_There is an awkward pause for a moment, no one knowing quite what to
say. Both_ MISS GODESBY _and_ MISS SILLERTON _have started the
conversation in the direction of clothing and are fearful of the topic
being changed. As the pause becomes embarrassing, they look helplessly
from one to the other, and all five, suddenly and at once, make an
ineffectual effort to say something--or nothing. Out of the general
confusion_ MRS. HUNTER _comes to the front, mistress of the situation._]
Are you going to stay in New York this winter, Mr. Trotter?

TROTTER. Yes, I'm negotiating for one of the biggest classy building
plots on upper Fifth Avenue.

CLARA. [_To_ MISS GODESBY.] I saw in the papers you were at the dance
last night.

[MISS GODESBY _nods and motions surreptitiously to_ TROTTER _to go. He,
however, doesn't understand._

MRS. HUNTER. [_With interest again in life._] Oh, _were you?_ What did
you wear?

MISS GODESBY. Oh, dowdy old things. I haven't bought my winter frocks
yet.

[_She repeats this casually as if to herself._

[MISS SILLERTON _motions to_ TROTTER _to go, but he has forgotten and
still doesn't understand._

TROTTER. What?

MISS GODESBY. You warned us not to let you forget your engagement!

TROTTER. What engagement?

MISS SILLERTON. How do we know! we only know you said you _had_ to go!

TROTTER. Never said so! Oh! [_As it dawns upon him._] Oh, yes! of
course. [_He rises._] Very sorry--must be off. Only dropped in--er--that
is, came in to express my respectful sympathy.

[_Shaking hands with_ MRS. HUNTER.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Who rises._] I hope you will come and see us again.

CLARA. Do! It'll be a godsend! We'll be dull as ditchwater here this
winter!

TROTTER. I shall be delighted to call again. Good-by. [_He bows to
Clara. In his embarrassment he starts to shake hands all over again,
but, realizing his mistake, laughs nervously._] Oh, I have already.

MISS SILLERTON. Good-by, Trotter.

MISS GODESBY. Don't forget we're booked with you at Sherry's.

TROTTER. Whose treat?

MISS GODESBY. Oh! _Yours_, of course--

TROTTER. I say, why can't I stay? I won't interfere.

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, do stay, Mr. Trotter!

MISS GODESBY. Oh, do stay!

[_Suggesting by her tone that he mustn't dare to remain._

CLARA. Good!

[TROTTER _remains, and they all settle themselves again for a long
stay._

MRS. HUNTER. By the way, you were speaking just now of your winter
frocks. It occurs to me--of course I don't know as I really want to
dispose of them, but--er--

[_She hesitates purposely._

MISS GODESBY. Oh, _would_ you? [_Rising, she takes a chair nearer to_
MRS. HUNTER.] You _dear_ thing!

MRS. HUNTER. The dresses are no use to us now, and when _we're_ out of
mourning--_they'll_ be out of style. You could wear Jess' things
perfectly, Julia.

MISS SILLERTON. And even something of yours could be made over for us.

MRS. HUNTER. But I'm so much older than you!

MISS SILLERTON. [_Thoughtlessly._] Yes, but you never dress
appropriately to your age.

CLARA. [_Laughing delightedly._] That's pretty good!

MISS SILLERTON. [_Saves herself._] You know what I mean, you always
_look_ so _youthful_, you _can't_ dress any older.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Rising._] Clara, dear, go upstairs and have Tompson bring
down my Worth dress and Jess' Doucet and your Paquin. [_She goes with_
CLARA _to the door, Right, and then whispers to her._] If you remember,
don't tell what we paid--we ought to get nearly double out of these
girls--and warn Tompson not to be surprised at anything she hears.

[MISS GODESBY _and_ MISS SILLERTON _exchange glances._ CLARA _goes out
Right._

MRS. HUNTER. It seems as if I had no further interest in clothes,
anyway.

MISS GODESBY. Don't say that. Every one I've seen this afternoon is
wildly enthusiastic over your mourning.

MRS. HUNTER. Well, I went straight to Madame O'Hoolihan and gave her
carte blank!

MISS GODESBY. I wouldn't like to be the ice man when your bill comes
in!--and clothes abroad are so much cheaper.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Thoughtlessly._] Oh, _half!_

MISS GODESBY. [_Quickly._] You see you'll be doing us a really great
favor letting us have some of your things!