Part 7 (1/2)

BLANCHE. What! You could think I meant that! Ugh! How could you?

STERLING. Well, what did you mean then? Eh?

[_Pulling her up close to him, her face close to his. She realizes first by the odor, then by a searching look at his face, that he is partly under the influence of liquor._

BLANCHE. [_With pathetic shame._] Let me go! I see what's the matter with you, but the reason is no excuse; you've been drinking.

STERLING. [_Dropping her hand._] Ugh! The usual whimper of a woman!

[RUTH _reenters Right._

RUTH. Well, Blanche, dear, your mother's in a calmer frame of mind, and I must go. d.i.c.k, can you lunch with me to-morrow?

STERLING. [_Hesitating, not caring about it._] Er--to-morrow?--er--

RUTH. Oh, only for business. I must have a new business man now to do all that _he_ did for me, and I'm going to try to make up to you for not having been always your--_best_ friend, by putting my affairs in _your_ hands.

BLANCHE. [_Serious, uneasy, almost frightened._] Aunt Ruth--

[_She stops._

RUTH. What, dear?

BLANCHE. Nothing.

[_She gives_ STERLING _a searching, steady look and keeps her eyes upon him, trying to read his real self._

RUTH. [_Continues to_ STERLING.] Mr. Mason is coming to me in the morning, and if you will lunch with me at one, I will then be able to give all the papers over to you.

[STERLING, _who up to this time has been almost dumbfounded by this sudden good fortune, now collects himself, and speaks delightedly but with sufficient reserve of his feelings._ BLANCHE _does not take her eyes from_ STERLING'S _face._

STERLING. Aunt Ruth, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I will do my best.

BLANCHE. [_Quickly._] Promise her, d.i.c.k, before me--give her your word of honor--you will be faithful to Aunt Ruth's trust.

[_He answers_ BLANCHE'S _look steadily with a hard gaze of his own._

RUTH. His acceptance of my trust is equal to that, Blanche.

BLANCHE. It is of course, isn't it, d.i.c.k?

STERLING. Of course.

[BLANCHE _is not content, but has to satisfy herself with this._

RUTH. To-morrow at one, then.

[_She starts to go._

[JORDAN _enters Left._