General!

CHADBOURNE.

And I'll be right out----

(_Sees the lifted hand_)

I'll be right in here.

(_Joins the Second Man, and the two, with Ardsley, disappear into the side room_)

YOUNG MATRON.

Why do you men keep going out that way?

THIRD MAN.

(_With a wink_)

The Governor wants to see us.

(_They go into the room, forward right_)

LADY WITH CONSPICUOUS COIFFURE.

(_Entering forward left with Pale Lady_)

Indeed it would; To just have all the money that you want.

PALE LADY.

And her new necklace, did you notice it?

LADY WITH CONSPICUOUS COIFFURE.

Her mother's plain enough.

PALE LADY.

There she goes now.

(_They pa.s.s rear and mingle with the throng_)

FIRST MAN.

(_Appearing forward right with a gla.s.s of wine_)

You ladies, I presume, are temperance workers.

(_'The punch! The punch!' is whispered about, and the people begin to pa.s.s out centre and forward right_)

FAT LADY.

I mean to just taste everything there is.

(_Goes out_)

LADY IN BLACK.

Isn't it just too grand for anything!

PALE LADY.

At night, though, I should think 'twould scare a body With all those horrid things upon the walls.

(_They go out. A moment later Mrs. Egerton comes in and looks about as though she were seeking some one_)

MRS. EGERTON.

(_To her daughter, who pa.s.ses toward the conservatory_)

Please don't keep showing it, Gladys.

GLADYS EGERTON.

Marjorie!

(_She enters the conservatory_)

MRS. EGERTON.

(_Beckons to some one in the room forward left. The Butler appears_)

Has no word come?

BUTLER.

Jack says that Mr. George inquired And they've seen nothing of him.

(_He goes back into the room, forward left. Mrs. Egerton lingers a while, then returns to the room, forward right. Here, a moment later Ralph Ardsley appears_)

RALPH ARDSLEY.

(_Calls to a group of four men back near the stairs_)

Laggards! laggards!

(_Bishop Hardbrooke and a fellow-townsman, each with a man who is evidently a stranger, come slowly forward_)