[NED _dives under the table for it._                           }
}
MISS SILLERTON. O dear, my fan!                                }
}
MISS GODESBY. What a bore! I've dropped a glove!               }
}
[STEINHART _goes under the table for it._                      }
}
CLARA. Both my gloves gone--I'm so sorry!                      }
}
[GODESBY _goes under the table for them._                      }
}
MRS. HUNTER. Dick, please, I've dropped my smelling bottle.    }  [ALL
}  _together_]
[TROTTER _and_ STERLING _go under the table for it._           }
}
RUTH. My gloves, please, I'm so sorry!                         }
}
[MASON _goes under the table for them._                        }
}
[_The speeches of the women are simultaneous, followed         }
by the movements of the men also, all at the same time._       }

BLANCHE. Please don't bother; the servants--

LEONARD, JORDAN _and, two extra men start to hunt under the table, too._

MISS GODESBY. Women ought to have everything they own fastened to them
with rubberneck elastics.

[_The men, somewhat flustered, all rise with the various articles, and
offer them to their respective owners._

[_All the women thank the men profusely, and apologize at the same
time._ STERLING _takes_ MRS. HUNTER _out at back, followed by all the
other couples, all talking._ RUTH _and_ MASON _lag behind._

RUTH. [_To_ BLANCHE, _who with_ WARDEN _waits for_ RUTH _and_ MASON _to
pass._] I want just a minute with Mr. Mason, Blanche. [BLANCHE _and_
WARDEN _pass out before her._ RUTH _is alone with_ MASON. _She speaks as
if she were carrying on a conversation that had been interrupted. She
speaks in a lowered voice, indicating the private nature of what she has
to say._] I sent him imperative word yesterday I must have the bonds. I
told him I wanted one to give to his wife for Christmas. He pretends
to-day he didn't receive this letter, but he must have.

MASON. This makes the third time there has been some excuse for not
giving you the bonds?

RUTH. Yes, and this letter he says he didn't get was sent to his office
by hand.

MASON. I'll speak to him before I leave.

[_They go out at back._

[_As they pass out,_ JORDAN _stands by the doorway holding the curtains
back. The other three men stand stiffly at the Right. As_ MASON _and_
RUTH _go out, the_ SERVANTS _relax and exchange glances, each giving a
little laugh out loud, except_ JORDAN. _During the following dialogue
they empty the table preparatory to arranging the room for the Christmas
tree._

JORDAN. Sh! A very dull dinner, not an interesting word spoke.

FIRST FOOTMAN. The widder seemed chipper like!

LEONARD. And did you get on to the old lady's rig-out; mourning don't
hang very heavy on her shoulders.

[_One chair is moved back._

JORDAN. [_To_ FIRST FOOTMAN.] Get the coffee. [_He goes out Right. To_
LEONARD.] Get the smoking lay-out!

[LEONARD _goes out Right and brings back a silver tray laden with
cigarettes, cigar boxes, and a burning alcohol lamp._

LEONARD. If you ask me, I think she's going to put a bit more on the
matrimonial mare if she gets the chance.

JORDAN. It's none of your business. You're _Mrs. Sterling's_ servant
now.

LEONARD. Good thing, too; it was a happy day for us when _they_ moved
in.

FIRST FOOTMAN. [_Reënters with the coffee._] Say, did you see how that
young feller over there [_Motioning to the lower right-hand corner of
the table._] shovelled the food in?

LEONARD. And the way he poured down the liquid--regular hog! My arm's
tired a-filling of his glass.

[_And he drinks a glass of champagne which has been left untouched by a
guest._

JORDAN. He ain't nobody; he hasn't any money; he was just asked to fill
up. He's one of these yere singing chaps what's asked to pass the time
after dinner with a song or two _gratis_. This dinner'll last him for
food for a week!

_Their manners suddenly change as the men reënter and take seats about
the two ends of the table._ STERLING, MASON, _and_ DOCTOR _down Left
form one group. The other men are in a group between the window and the
other end. On entering_ STERLING _speaks._

STERLING. Jordan, for heaven's sake, give us something to see by! You
can't tell which end of your cigar to light in this confounded woman's
candle-light. If I had my way, I'd have candelabras made of Welsbachs!

TROTTER. Bright idea, Sterling.

[STERLING, _laughing, joins his group, who laugh gently with him._
JORDAN _turns on the electric light. The servants pass the coffee,
liqueurs, and the cigars and cigarettes. Meanwhile the following
dialogue takes place, the men beginning to talk at once on their
entrance._

STERLING. Mr. Mason, I'd like to ask your honest opinion on something if
you'll give it me.

MASON. Certainly.

STERLING. This Hudson Electric Company.

DR. STEINHART. Oh! Dropped fearfully to-day.

STERLING. But that can happen easily with the best thing. To-morrow--

MASON. [_Interrupting._] To-morrow it will drop to its _very bottom_!

STERLING. I don't believe it.

DR. STEINHART. Surely, Mr. Mason, the men who floated that are too
clever to ruin _themselves_?

MASON. They're out of it.

STERLING. Out of it!

MASON. They got out last week quietly.

STERLING. But--

MASON. Mark my words, the day after to-morrow there'll be several
foolish people ruined, and _not one of the promoters of that company
will lose a penny_!

STERLING. I don't believe it!

[_The crowd at the other end of the table, who have been listening to a
tale from_ TROTTER, _laugh heartily._

TROTTER. [_Delighted with his success._] I'm no Dodo bird!

[WARDEN _leaves this group casually and joins the other._

MASON. [_To_ STERLING.] Don't tell me _you're_ in it?

STERLING. [_Ugly._] Yes, I am in it!

MASON. Not _much?_

STERLING. Yes, _much!_

WARDEN. Much what?

STERLING. Oh, nothing; we were just discussing stocks.

WARDEN. And up there they're discussing Jeffreys and Fitzsimmons.

MASON. Listen, Dick, after a lifelong experience in Wall Street, I defy
any broker to produce one customer who can show a profit after three
consecutive years of speculation.

STERLING. Oh, you're too conservative; nothing venture, nothing have.
Excuse me, I think Jeffreys and Fitzsimmons more amusing topics. Come
along.

[STERLING _and_ DR. STEINHART _join the other group Right._

MASON. [_To_ WARDEN.] You're Sterling's broker.

WARDEN. No, not for over a year.

MASON. Then you can't tell me how deep he is in this Hudson Electric
swindle?

WARDEN. Is he in it at all?

MASON. Yes, he says, deep.

WARDEN. I suspected it yesterday.

MASON. But what with--his wife's money?

WARDEN. That went fourteen months ago. I put him on his feet then, gave
him some tips that enabled him to take this house with her mother, so
that with his regular law business he ought to have done very well, but
his living could not leave one cent over to speculate with.

MASON. [_To himself._] Good God!

WARDEN. I know what you're afraid of.

MASON. No!

WARDEN. Yes. The reason I'm no longer his broker is he was ashamed to
let me know about his dealings.

MASON. But you don't mean you think he'd actually _steal_!

WARDEN. His _aunt's_ money? Why not? _He did his wife's!_

MASON. Does he handle any one else's affairs?

WARDEN. I know he takes care of that Godesby woman's property.

MASON. And she wouldn't hold her tongue if a crash came!

WARDEN. Not for a minute! Is Miss Hunter suspicious?

MASON. Yes. Does Sterling realize that to-morrow he will most probably
be a ruined cheat?

WARDEN. Very likely.

MASON. If he made up his mind to-night it was all up with him, he might
do--what?

WARDEN. Run away with whatever money he has left, or kill himself. I
don't know if he's enough of a coward for that or not. There's _one_
hold on him--he loves his wife.

MASON. Which will make him all the more ashamed of discovery. Do you
believe she suspects?

WARDEN. Not a bit. She loves him too dearly.

MASON. Can _we_ do anything?

WARDEN. Nothing but watch him closely till the people go. Then force him
to make a clean breast of it, so we can all know where we stand; how we
can best protect his aunt from ruin and his wife and boy from public
disgrace.

MASON. He is watching us.

WARDEN. He knows I know him; we must be careful. He's coming toward us.
[_He then speaks in a different tone, but no louder._] You're certain of
the trustworthiness of your information?

MASON. Absolutely. Every man left in that concern will be ruined before
the 'Change closes after to-morrow. [STERLING _has joined them in time
to hear the end of_ MASON'S _speech._ MASON _continues._] I am telling
Warden what I told you about the Hudson Electric Company.

STERLING. Can't you talk of something pleasanter?

[BLANCHE _reënters at back. On her entrance all the men rise. The
servants finish preparing the room for the tree._

BLANCHE. I'm very sorry--I really can't let you men stay here any
longer.

ALL THE MEN. Why not? How's that? [_Ad lib._]

BLANCHE. You know we want to get this room ready for Santa Claus! Dick!
[_She goes to her husband. All the men go out at back in a group led by_
WARDEN _and_ MASON. _They are all talking and laughing._ BLANCHE _is
left alone with her husband._] What is this Aunt Ruth has been telling
me about not being able to get some bonds from you?

STERLING. Oh, nothing. I forgot to send them up to her, that's all.

BLANCHE. But she says she sent three times.

STERLING. One time too late to get into the vault; and the other, her
letter was mislaid--I mean not given to me.

BLANCHE. You haven't broken your word to me?

STERLING. What if I had?

BLANCHE. I would let the law take its course.

STERLING. You must love me very little.

BLANCHE. I _live_ with you. First you robbed me of my respect for you;
then you dried up my heart with neglect.

STERLING. And our boy?

BLANCHE. Your blood runs in his veins; your shame and disgrace would be
a fearful warning to him. It might kill _me_; but never mind, if it
_saved him_.

STERLING. Oh, well, I haven't broken my word! So you needn't worry. I've
been honest enough.

BLANCHE. [_With a long sigh of relief._] Oh! I hope so!

MRS. HUNTER. [_Appearing in doorway at back._] The men are in the
drawing-room--shall we come _here_?

BLANCHE. Yes, we'll bring the others, mother. Come, Dick.

[_She goes out with_ MRS. HUNTER _at back._

STERLING. [_Goes to door Right, opens it, and calls._] Leonard!

[LEONARD _enters Right_

LEONARD. Yes, sir?

STERLING. Go up to my library at the top of the house, get a railroad
guide you will find there, and bring it down and put it on the table in
the hall just outside the drawing-room door.

LEONARD. Yes, sir.

STERLING. Then go to my room and pack my bag and dressing case. Do you
understand?

LEONARD. Yes, sir.

[_The women are heard singing "Follow the Man from Cook's," and
gradually coming nearer._

STERLING. Be quick, and say nothing to any one.

LEONARD. Yes, sir.

[_He goes out quickly Right._ STERLING _goes up stage and stands beside
the door at back as the women dance in, singing "Follow the Man from
Cook's." They are led by_ CLARA, _with_ MRS. HUNTER _on the end._
BLANCHE _and_ RUTH _follow alone, not dancing. The others dance around
the chairs and_ CLARA _jumps on and off one of them; this stops the
rest, who balk at it._ STERLING _goes out at back. The_ SERVANTS _enter
Right._

CLARA. I don't care for this dinner party at all. The women are all the
time being chased away from the men! I prefer being with Mr. Trotter.
Don't you, mama?

MISS SILLERTON. He doesn't seem able to give a dinner party any more
without you to chaperone, Mrs. Hunter.

BLANCHE. Mother, how can you?

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, I don't know as it's _chaperoning_! I like Mr. Trotter
very much.

MISS SILLERTON. But he's such a little cad. I tried to give him a lift,
but he was too heavy for me.

CLARA. Oh, well, you ought just to pretend it's the money in his pocket
makes him so heavy; then you'd find him dead easy.

[_Meanwhile the_ SERVANTS _have arranged the table, taken out the extra
leaves and made it square, and left the room. They now reënter, bringing
in a gorgeously decorated and lighted Christmas tree. There is at once a
loud chorus of delighted approval from the women. The_ SERVANTS _place
the tree in the centre of the table. The women who are sitting rise and
come near to examine the tree._

RUTH. What a beautiful tree, Blanche!

BLANCHE. The boy is to have it to-morrow morning--it's really _his_
tree! [TOMPSON _brings in a large basket containing seven small
stockings and six small boys' socks--very small stockings and very small
socks. They are made of bright and different colors and are stuffed into
absurd, bulgy shapes._] There's a name on each one. Come along now!

[_Taking out a little sock. The women crowd around the basket and each
hangs a sock on the tree,_ MISS GODESBY _and_ CLARA _standing on
chairs._

CLARA. [_Reading the name on her sock._] Oh! mine's for Mr. Mason.
What's in it, Blanche?

BLANCHE. I really can't tell you. I asked the clerk where I bought it
what it was for, and he said he didn't know; it was a "Christmas
present."

MISS GODESBY. [_Laughing._] Oh, I know the kind! Mine's for Howard
Godesby. What's his present?

BLANCHE. A silver golf marker.

MISS GODESBY. But he doesn't play golf!

BLANCHE. Well, he ought to; it'll keep him young.

CLARA. It will be all right, anyway, Julia! _You_ can give it away to
some one next Christmas.

MISS SILLERTON. What's in Mr. Trotter's?

BLANCHE. Oh, that present has almost been my death! Men are so hard to
find things for! I had put in a gold pencil for his key chain, but
to-night while we were eating our oysters, I saw him show a beauty that
his mother had given him this morning! So I whispered to Jordan between
the soup and fish to change Mr. Ryder's name to Mr. Trotter's stocking,
and put Mr. Trotter's name on the one that had a cigarette case in it. I
sneaked a message down to Dick on my dinner card--was it all right?--and
he sent back word during the game that Trotter only smoked cigars; so
before the ices were passed I shuffled Mr. Trotter's and Mr. Mason's
names,--I'd given Mason the cigar case,--and just as Jordan signalled to
me the transfer had been successfully effected, I heard Trotter casually
observe he'd been obliged to give up smoking entirely--_doctor's
orders_!

[_They laugh punctiliously, rather bored by_ BLANCHE'S _long account._

MRS. HUNTER. Isn't the tree stunning?

CLARA. [_Getting down from her chair._] It makes the table look like one
of Mr. Trotter's "informal little dinners."

MISS GODESBY. They say he has one of those men who arrange shop windows
decorate his dinner table for him!

BLANCHE. The only time I ever dined with him I was really ashamed to go
home with my dinner favor--it was so gorgeous! And there were such big
bunches of violets in the finger bowls there wasn't room for your little
finger.

MISS GODESBY. You never saw such a lot of decoration! The game have
ribbon garters on their legs, and even the raw oysters wear corsage
bouquets! [_To_ MRS. HUNTER.] I hope you don't mind what we're saying,
Mrs. Hunter?

MRS. HUNTER. [_Offended._] I must say I do mind very much.--[_A
pause._]--because--[_A second pause._]--well, I am going to marry Mr.
Trotter--[_All, not believing her, laugh merrily._] You are all very
rude!

MISS GODESBY. Not on the level! Not _Trotter_!

MISS SILLERTON. Not _really_!

BLANCHE. No, no, of course not!

[_She rings bell._

MRS. HUNTER. But I _am_! And I thought here at my daughter's table,
among my own friends (I was allowed to name the guests to-night), I
could count on good wishes and congratulations.

[_There is a dead silence._

[_The musicians, a band of Neapolitan players, enter and take their
places in a recess at Left._

BLANCHE. [_To the musicians._] You may play. [_To_ JORDAN, _who has
brought in the Neapolitans._] We are ready, Jordan.

[JORDAN _goes out at back._

[RUTH _goes to_ BLANCHE.

[_The guitars and mandolins begin a popular song._

MISS GODESBY. [_To_ MRS. HUNTER.] Oh, well, Mrs. Hunter, we were only
codding! There's lots of good in Trotter, and I'm sure you'll bring it
out. Good luck!

[_Shaking her hand._

RUTH. [_To_ BLANCHE, _aside._] You won't allow this!

BLANCHE. Certainly not. [BLANCHE _crosses to her mother and they go to
one side together;_ BLANCHE _speaks in a lowered voice._] You've amazed
and shocked me! I will not tolerate such a thing; we'll talk it over
to-night.

[_She leaves her and returns to her guests_, MRS. HUNTER _standing where
she is left, biting her lips and almost crying with rage and
mortification._

MISS GODESBY. [_Before the musicians, to_ BLANCHE _as she joins her._]
I'm crazy about these men, Mrs. Sterling; they play so awfully
well--especially that one with the lovely legs!

[JORDAN _pulls aside the curtains at back and all the men reënter
except_ WARDEN. _They all join hands and dance around the tree, singing
with the musicians; they break, and go up to a side table, where
everything to drink is displayed._ WARDEN _enters at this moment and
motions to_ MASON _and leads him down stage._

WARDEN. There was a railway guide in the hall--that's what he went there
for; he's _going to run away to-night_.

MASON. How'll we prevent it?

WARDEN. First, we must break up this party!

MASON. How?

WARDEN. I haven't quite thought yet. Go back to the others; send Jordan
to me; don't lose sight of Dick. Jordan! [_He takes him aside._] I want
you to go out of this room for a minute, pretend to go upstairs, then
come back and tell Mrs. Sterling, loud enough for the others to hear
you, that Master Richard is very ill, and say the maid is frightened.

JORDAN. [_Hesitating._] But--

WARDEN. [_Quickly and firmly._] Do as I tell you. I am responsible for
whatever happens.

[JORDAN _goes out at back. The men and women are laughing and talking
about the sideboard._

BLANCHE. Come now, everybody! Let's have the presents. Dick, you know
you are to be Santa Claus.

[STERLING _looks nervously at his watch._

STERLING. Just a minute, dear! Ned! [_Takes_ WARDEN _to one side. The
women move about the tree, hunting for their own names on the stockings
on the table at the foot of the tree._] Ned, I've been suddenly called
out of town on business--must catch the eleven-twenty train. I don't
want to break up the party, so you empty the tree, and when the time
comes for me to go, I'll slip out.

WARDEN. And when your guests go?

STERLING. Oh, then you can explain for me.

[JORDAN _enters at back._

JORDAN. [_To_ BLANCHE.] Beg pardon, madam, but Master Richard is very
ill.

BLANCHE. [_Alarmed._] Richard!

JORDAN. Yes, ma'am, and Droves is very frightened, ma'am.

RUTH. Richard ill?

[_All give exclamations of surprise and regret and sympathy._

BLANCHE. My little boy ill? Excuse me, I must go to him.

[_She hurries out at back._ RUTH _speaks to the musicians, who stop
playing._

STERLING. [_Moved._] My boy ill--why, I can't--I can't--

WARDEN. "Can't" what?

STERLING. How can I go away?

WARDEN. Surely you won't let business take you away from your boy who
may be dying.

STERLING. No! I won't go! I'll face it out! I can't leave my boy like
this--

RUTH. [_Coming to_ STERLING.] I'm going to take these women away; tell
Blanche not to give them a thought. Their evening up to now has been
charming.

[_During_ RUTH'S _speech_, WARDEN _has spoken aside with_ MASON.

WARDEN. [_Aside to_ MASON.] Don't let Miss Hunter go.

RUTH. [_To the other guests._] Come to the drawing-room.

MRS. HUNTER. I was crazy to see what was in my stocking.

[_All pass out talking, expressing conventional sympathy on account of_
RICHARD, _but evidently resenting the breaking up of the party._
STERLING _and_ WARDEN _are left alone in the room._ STERLING _moves to
go up to back;_ WARDEN _interrupts him._

WARDEN. [_To_ STERLING.] Where are you going?

STERLING. To my boy and my wife.

WARDEN. Wait a minute; I want to speak to you.

STERLING. Speak to me later; I can't wait now.

BLANCHE. [_Off stage, at back, excitedly._] Jordan! [_She enters,
excited, half hysterical._] Jordan! Where is Jordan? It was a lie! What
did he mean? Richard is sleeping sweetly. The maid knows nothing of
being alarmed! Where is Jordan?

[_She starts to go toward the door Right._

WARDEN. [_Stops her._] Mrs. Sterling, he had nothing to do with it! _I_
told Jordan to say what he said.

[BLANCHE _turns and looks at_ WARDEN _in astonishment._

STERLING. [_Stunned and at once suspicious._] What?