Part 31 (1/2)

MRS. HUNTER. I don't know anything about politics! But I could count a dozen women in a breath, all divorced, or trying to be, or _ought_ to be!

RUTH. And each one of them getting a cold shoulder.

BLANCHE. What of it if their hearts are warm--poor climbers after happiness!

RUTH. Believe me, dear, the chill spreads. You're going to be selfish?

MRS. HUNTER. She's going to be sensible.

[CLARA _enters Right._

CLARA. h.e.l.lo, everybody! I just saw d.i.c.k coming out of his room and I cut him dead.

BLANCHE. Clara!

RUTH. [_To_ BLANCHE.] You've taken a certain responsibility upon yourself, and you can't s.h.i.+rk it.

BLANCHE. He isn't what I thought him!

RUTH. The day the sun shone on you as a bride, in G.o.d's presence, you said you took him for better for worse--

CLARA. Dear me, is that in it? The marriage service ought to be expurgated!

RUTH. [_To_ CLARA.] I'm ashamed of you.

CLARA. That's nothing new!

BLANCHE. Aunt Ruth, let us talk some other time.

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, if we are in the way, we'll go!

[_Rises._

CLARA. Yes, come on, let's go to Atlantic City.

MRS. HUNTER. No, I'd rather go to Lakewood.

CLARA. Oh, pshaw, Lakewood's no fun! I'm surprised you don't say go to Aiken, North Carolina.

MRS. HUNTER. Mr. Trotter says we can't leave town anyway while Blanche is in this trouble.

BLANCHE. Mother, please discuss your affairs somewhere else.

RUTH. And if I may be permitted to suggest, you will find Mr. Trotter's advice always pretty good to follow. That young man has better qualities than we have suspected. I have some thing to thank him for; will you be good enough to ask him to come and see me?

MRS. HUNTER. He will not go to your house with my permission. I shall tell him you have never asked me inside your door.

CLARA. Mother, if you ask _me_--[MRS. HUNTER _interjects_ ”Which I don't,” _but_ CLARA _continues without paying any attention to the interruption._]--I don't think Mr. Trotter is going to cry himself to sleep for your permission about anything!

MRS. HUNTER. [_To_ BLANCHE.] Good-by, my dear; if you want me, let me know; I'll be glad to do anything I can. I'm staying at the Waldorf.