Part 10 (2/2)
MISS SILLERTON. _We_--buy their winter clothes.
TROTTER. For Heaven's sake!
MISS G.o.dESBY. 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 G.o.dESBY. 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 G.o.dESBY _changes immediately. They speak with rather subdued voices, in the tone of conventional sympathy which is usually adopted on such occasions._ MRS. HUNTER _also a.s.sumes 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 G.o.dESBY _goes to_ MRS. HUNTER _and shakes hands while_ MISS SILLERTON _crosses to_ CLARA; _Trotter shakes hands with_ MRS. HUNTER _as_ MISS G.o.dESBY _goes to_ CLARA.
TROTTER. I hope you don't think my coming an intrusion.
MRS. HUNTER. Not at all.
MISS G.o.dESBY. 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 G.o.dESBY. 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 G.o.dESBY. Oh, _no! every one's_ saying _just_ the reverse!
<script>