The Climbers Part 24

TROTTER. Of course I want it! And I say, where are _you_? Why aren't _you_ in it?

WARDEN. There are reasons why my name had better not appear; you are in the family. But I'll tell you what I'll do, Trotter; I'll secure _you_ with a note of my own--only you must keep it dark; you mustn't even let Mason know.

TROTTER. All right, perhaps I'm a Dodo bird, but I'll do it. Say, I seem to have married a good many of this cla.s.sy family!

WARDEN. Trotter, no one's done you justice! And, by George! you deserve a better fate--er--I mean--my best wishes on your wedding day.

[TROTTER _shakes his hand delightedly._

TROTTER. Great day for me! What I wanted was style and position, and some one cla.s.sy who would know how to spend my money for me!

WARDEN. Well, you've got _that, surely_!

[CLARA _comes back from the house._

CLARA. The G.o.desbys are coming. Trotter, there's skating on the river near here, and they've skates in the house--don't you want a spin?

TROTTER. Yes, I don't mind--if my wife doesn't need me! [CLARA _laughs as_ G.o.dESBY _and_ MISS G.o.dESBY _enter from behind the house._ TROTTER _meets them, with_ CLARA _on his arm._] Excuse us for a little while!

CLARA. _Poppa_ and I're going skating!

[_They go out Left._

G.o.dESBY. h.e.l.lo, Warden.

WARDEN. Good morning, Miss G.o.desby.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Good morning.

WARDEN. How are you, G.o.desby? I've come on a matter most serious, most urgent--something very painful.

G.o.dESBY. What is it?

[_Comes forward._

WARDEN. Both of you trusted d.i.c.k Sterling.

MISS G.o.dESBY. What's he done?

WARDEN. Misused your funds.

G.o.dESBY. How d'you mean?

WARDEN. I mean that the money you intrusted to him is gone, and I've come to make a proposition to you.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Gone?

[G.o.dESBY _and_ MISS G.o.dESBY _are aghast. A second's silence, during which_ G.o.dESBY _and_ MISS G.o.dESBY _look at each other, then back at_ WARDEN.

G.o.dESBY. Do you mean to say--

WARDEN. The money is _gone_, every penny of it, and I want you to accept a note from Sterling to cover the amount.

MISS G.o.dESBY. I can't _grasp_ it!

G.o.dESBY. Where is Sterling? Why didn't _he_ come?

WARDEN. He was ashamed.

G.o.dESBY. I should hope so!

WARDEN. Several of us are going to stick by him; we'll manage to put him on his feet again, and we want you to accept his note.

G.o.dESBY. [_Incredulous._] Accept his note?

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Also incredulous._] On _what security_?

G.o.dESBY. [_Quickly._] You'll do nothing of the sort, Julia!

MISS G.o.dESBY. I'll see him where he belongs, in State's Prison, first!

WARDEN. That wouldn't bring you back your money.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Neither will his note!

WARDEN. If I get it indorsed?

G.o.dESBY. Likely!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Rather!

WARDEN. I want your silence to keep it from the public for the family's sake. I've secured a satisfactory indorser for a note to satisfy Ryder's claim.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Why didn't you give him to _me_ instead of Ryder?

WARDEN. I felt you would be willing, out of friends.h.i.+p--

[_There are sleigh-bells in the distance, coming nearer._

MISS G.o.dESBY. Huh! you must take me for an idiot!

WARDEN. Out of friends.h.i.+p for his wife.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Blanche Sterling! I never could bear her! She's always treated me like the dirt under her feet!

WARDEN. You dined with her last night.

MISS G.o.dESBY. That was to please her mother. No, if my money's gone, Sterling's got to suffer, and the one slight consolation I shall have will be that Blanche Sterling will have to come off her high horse.