The Climbers Part 13

MARIE. _Voila_, madame!

[_A short silence, while the women sit down and drink in the gown._

MISS SILLERTON. [_In a subdued voice of awed admiration._] Beautiful!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Great!

TROTTER. [_To_ MISS G.o.dESBY.] _I'm_ stuck on the _girl_; introduce me.

She's out of sight!

[MRS. HUNTER _sighs long and loud,--a sigh of appreciation and admiration._ MARIE _stands in the centre of the stage facing the audience._

MISS G.o.dESBY. May we see her back?

CLARA. Her _entire_ back, if she turns around!

MRS. HUNTER. Turn around, Marie.

MARIE. _Oui_, madame.

[_She turns her back--the dress is cut extremely in the back._

MISS SILLERTON. Oh!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Rather!

MRS. HUNTER. The way everything is made this year.

MISS G.o.dESBY. I'm afraid my back is rather full of bones.

CLARA. They told us in Paris, bones were coming in! [_She takes a large American beauty rose from a vase on the piano and slips it down_ MARIE'S _back so that the dress seems much less decollete._] There, never too late to mend!

MISS G.o.dESBY. How much is this one?

[MISS G.o.dESBY _and_ MISS SILLERTON _examine the dress._

CLARA. [_Whispers to_ MRS. HUNTER.] You paid two hundred for it!

MRS. HUNTER. Three hundred dollars. It is really superb.

MISS SILLERTON. [_Pulling_ MISS G.o.dESBY _around quickly._] My dear, your hat pin is coming out!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Don't be absurd!

MISS SILLERTON. What?

MISS G.o.dESBY. It's my turn, sit down; you got the last! You won't mind my being frank, Mrs. Hunter?

MRS. HUNTER. [_On the defensive._] Certainly not.

MISS G.o.dESBY. I think the price is too much.

TROTTER. Oh, go on, pay it!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Will you sign the check?

TROTTER. _Excuse me!_

CLARA. I'd give twice that if only I could wear it to one ball this winter!

MRS. HUNTER. I wouldn't part with it for a penny less. I couldn't afford to.

[_The manners and voices of all become a little strained._

MISS G.o.dESBY. That is of course your affair.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Politely._] We needn't keep Marie any longer, at any rate, need we? You can go, Marie, and you too, Tompson.

[CLARA _and_ MRS. HUNTER _help place the other dresses on_ TOMPSON'S _arms._

MISS SILLERTON. [_To_ MISS G.o.dESBY, _on the opposite side of the room, in a lowered voice._] I'll take it; I'm willing to pay that.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Don't you dare interfere! I want the gown, but I know she'll come down,--if she doesn't, I'll make a bluff at going. Then if she sticks to her price, I'll come back and pay it.

[_They turn to_ MRS. HUNTER.

MISS SILLERTON. Oh, Mrs. Hunter, may I see my dress just one more minute?

MRS. HUNTER. Certainly.

[_She and_ CLARA _come back with the dress._

MARIE. [_To_ TOMPSON _by the door at Right._]

_Vite!_ Come! Come! Jordan 'ave stole ze photograph machine of Mees Clara, and he make now one pigsher of me in ze dress!

[_Smiling mischievously, delighted, she goes out Right._

MISS SILLERTON. Thank you.

[_She leaves her dress._

MRS. HUNTER. Take this too, Tompson.

TOMPSON. Yes, madam.

[MRS. HUNTER _speaks to_ TOMPSON, _aside, and_ CLARA, _near them, watches the two visitors out of the corner of her eye._

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Aside to_ MISS SILLERTON.] I'll leave my m.u.f.f; that'll be a good excuse to come back.