Part 19 (2/2)

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_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 G.o.dESBY. [_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 reenter 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 d.i.c.k. 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. d.i.c.k, 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.

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