MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Quickly._] You see you'll be doing us a really great favor letting us have some of your things!

MRS. HUNTER. [_Realizing her nearly fatal error._] Oh! Oh, yes--but--er--I must say that _we_ found prices while in Paris _this year_ rather _atrocious!_

[CLARA _reenters Right._

CLARA. [_Sighs._] O dear! It breaks my heart not to wear my ball dress, my dear Julia; it was designed specially for me. I told Marie to put it on, mama; my clothes fit her perfectly, and I thought it would show so much better what it is.

MRS. HUNTER. Here they are.

[_Rises as_ TOMPSON _enters Right._

TOMPSON. Mrs. Hunter's reception gown.

[_Displaying it._

CLARA. Oh, this _is_ a beauty!

[_She takes the costume and drapes it over a chair._ MISS G.o.dESBY _and_ MISS SILLERTON _come closer to examine._

MRS. HUNTER. Tompson.--[_Taking her to one side, whispers._]--I forget; do you remember what I paid for this dress?

TOMPSON. [_Whispers back._] One hundred and sixty dollars, madam.

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, yes. Don't say anything. [_Returning to the others._]

Do you like it?

MISS SILLERTON. Perfectly lovely! } } [_At the same time._ MISS G.o.dESBY. Immensely. It's great! }

MRS. HUNTER. [_Hesitates._] I forget just what I paid for it, but I believe it was two hundred dollars.

[CLARA _half exclaims in astonishment, but on being pinched surrept.i.tiously on the arm by_ MRS. HUNTER _she grasps the situation and starts in to do her share._

CLARA. Oh, no, mama! I'm sure it was more than that!

MRS. HUNTER. Well, perhaps it was two--twenty or two--twenty-five.

TROTTER. That's cheap, isn't it?

MISS G.o.dESBY. Shut up.

[TOMPSON'S _face is always a perfect blank, showing no expression or surprise; she has lived with_ MRS. HUNTER _for many years and "knows her business."_

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_In a very different tone of voice, influenced by the big price._] Of course, I see it's made of the best material. But it isn't my color.

MRS. HUNTER. It's the very latest shade.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Yes, I know; but I think as you said a little while ago, perhaps it is a trifle too old for me.

MRS. HUNTER. I might let you have it for a little less; say one hundred and eighty.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Thank you very much. I'll think it over.

MISS SILLERTON. What's the other?

CLARA. This is a dinner dress of Jess'.

[_Holding it up to her own waist._

MISS SILLERTON. [_Carried away by the dress._] Oh, lovely,--perfectly charming,--an adorable gown!

[MISS G.o.dESBY _pulls her arm and tries to make her less enthusiastic._

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_To_ CLARA _and_ MRS. HUNTER.] Excuse me.

[_She takes_ MISS SILLERTON _to one side and whispers in her ear._

MISS SILLERTON. [_Aloud._] I can't help it. I'm crazy about the dress!

[_Meanwhile_ MRS. HUNTER _and_ TOMPSON _have whispered together._

MRS. HUNTER. They said themselves this was the most successful frock they turned out this autumn.

MISS SILLERTON. And how much is _this_ one?

MRS. HUNTER. [_Very quickly, trying not to speak consciously._] This was two hundred and seventy-five.

[CLARA _bites her lips in surprise and winks visibly to_ TOMPSON, _who gives no sign and is otherwise imperturbable._

MISS SILLERTON. [_To_ MISS G.o.dESBY, _looking hard at her._] My dear, your hat pin is coming out!

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Looking hard at her._] No, it isn't; it's always like that.

MISS SILLERTON. [_Going closer to her, whispers._] Which does that mean?

I forget!

MISS G.o.dESBY. It's a _gouge_!

MISS SILLERTON. I can't help it; I can't resist.

MISS HUNTER. [_Whispers to_ CLARA.] She's going to take it; I wish I'd asked more.

MISS SILLERTON. Mrs. Hunter, I'll _take_ the dinner dress! I'm crazy about it!

MRS. HUNTER. I'm glad to have you have it; I'm glad to be able to do you, in a way, a favor.

[MARIE _at this moment enters dressed in the most exquisite ball dress of the very latest fashion and looks extremely lovely._

CLARA. Here's mine! I could cry to think I'll never wear it!