The Climbers Part 14

TROTTER. [_Also in a lowered voice to_ MISS G.o.dESBY.] Dodo!

[TOMPSON _goes out Right._

[MRS. HUNTER _and_ CLARA _come back._

MISS G.o.dESBY. You really couldn't take less than three hundred?

MRS. HUNTER. I wish I could if only for your own sake; but I really couldn't in justice to myself.

MISS G.o.dESBY. I'm very sorry--and I'm afraid we must be going now.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Not believing they will go._] Oh, must you? Well, it was very kind of you to come.

[MISS G.o.dESBY _leaves her m.u.f.f upon the table at the Left._

MISS SILLERTON. [_Shakes hands with_ MRS. HUNTER.] Good-by.

[_She goes on to_ CLARA.

[MISS G.o.dESBY _comes to shake hands with_ MRS. HUNTER.

MRS. HUNTER. I think you're making a mistake not to take the dress, Julia dear.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Perhaps, but I really can't go more than two hundred and fifty.

[MRS. HUNTER _looks surrept.i.tiously at_ CLARA, _who slyly shakes her head to her mother._

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, quite impossible!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Good-by.

MRS. HUNTER. Good-by.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Good-by, Clara.

MRS. HUNTER. [_Frightened._] Would you like to see the dress off?

MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, my dear, it was as _off_ as I would ever like to see it. Good-by.

MRS. HUNTER. Good-by. [MISS SILLERTON _and_ MISS G.o.dESBY _get to doorway Left._] You _won't_ take it?

MISS G.o.dESBY. _Can't!_ Good-by.

CLARA. [_Dryly._] You're forgetting your m.u.f.f!

TROTTER. Rubber!

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Coming back for it._] How stupid!

[_She goes away to the door again in silence, which is full of suspense for all of them. As she reaches the door_ MRS. HUNTER _speaks._

MRS. HUNTER. Look here, Julia, don't say another word; you shall have the dress for two hundred and fifty.

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Rus.h.i.+ng back, followed by all the others._] You dear!

I'm afraid you think I've been rather nasty!

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, no, of course business is business, and I'd _rather you_ had it than see it wasted on some of our other friends who'd be sights in it!

MISS SILLERTON. Good-by. [_Kisses her this time._] I haven't said half I feel; you've been in my thoughts all these last few days.

MRS. HUNTER. Thank you, dear.

[_Kisses her._

MISS G.o.dESBY. Shall we send around for the dresses in the morning?

MRS. HUNTER. Or I'll send them.

MISS G.o.dESBY. No, we won't trouble you.

MISS SILLERTON. Good-by!

MRS. HUNTER AND CLARA. Good-by!

[MISS SILLERTON _and_ MISS G.o.dESBY _go out Left, followed by_ TROTTER, _who has joined in all the good-bys, and upon whom_ CLARA _has more or less continuously kept her "weather eye."_

MRS. HUNTER. I'm perfectly sure if I'd stuck to three hundred, Julia G.o.desby would have sent around when she got home and paid it!

CLARA. I'm glad you didn't run the risk though, for we'll need every cent we can get now.

[_She runs her fingers rapidly over the piano keys._

[BLANCHE _reenters Right._

MRS. HUNTER. Why, I thought you'd gone long ago.

BLANCHE. Jess begged me to stay with her. Try to understand her, mother; I think she will miss father more than any of us.

[JORDAN _enters Left._

JORDAN. Mr. Warden has come back, madam.

[WARDEN _enters Left._

WARDEN. Forgive my intruding so soon again, but did Mr. Mason leave a letter case of Mr. Hunter's here?

[BLANCHE _begins looking for the case._