Part 18 (2/2)

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 reenter, 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 G.o.dESBY _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.”

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