STERLING. But you _will_ stay?

[LEONARD _enters from Left._

LEONARD. Miss G.o.desby, Mr. Warden.

[_They enter._

[_All greet each other._ WARDEN _nods stiffly to_ STERLING, _barely acknowledging his greeting._

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_To_ STERLING, _purposely speaking with good-humored raillery to relieve the tension of the situation._] Well, you're a nice lot, aren't you?

STERLING. I'm so ashamed! I'm so ashamed!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, never mind that now.

BLANCHE. I have no words to thank you with.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Oh, that's all right. The truth is, I've made Warden bring me here, Sterling, for a bit of business. I had an emotional moment yesterday and went off my head a bit. I stand by what I said as to keeping quiet, but--well, I'm like any other old maid who hates dust on her mantelpiece--I'm fidgety not to make some sort of a bluff at putting this thing on a business basis.

WARDEN. Excuse me, Miss G.o.desby, I think Sterling ought to know the truth.

STERLING. _Now_ what?

MISS G.o.dESBY. Well, the truth is, my fool of a brother has kicked up an infernal row, and refuses to hold his tongue.

STERLING. Then I'm ruined after all!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Wait, I've left him with Mr. Mason. I feel certain I can a.s.sure his silence if I can only show him some sort of an agreement to pay, an acknowledgment of the--the--affair, signed and sealed.

BLANCHE. Signed by whom?

MISS G.o.dESBY. Your husband and yourself will do.

STERLING. But both names are worthless.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Not as a point of honor.

STERLING. Ah! no, not my wife's.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Nor yours to me. Come along!

[_She goes to the table with_ STERLING, _and unfolding a paper gives it to him. He signs it._

WARDEN. [_Aside to_ BLANCHE, _apologizing for his presence._] She made me come--she wouldn't come alone; otherwise I should have waited till you sent for me.

BLANCHE. It's as well--I've decided. Oh, I wonder if I'm doing wrong.

[_Looking him straight in the face._

WARDEN. [_Looking back searchingly in hers to read the truth, but believing that she will certainly leave her husband._] No, _you_ can't do wrong! But I must warn you of one thing--I'm not any longer the controlled man I was.

MISS G.o.dESBY. Come along now, Mrs. Sterling, brace up and give me your name, and Warden, witness, please. [_They do so._] Of course, my dears, I know perfectly well that legally this isn't worth the paper it's written on. [_Exchanging a serious and meaning look with_ WARDEN.] But my idiot of a brother won't realize that, which is the point. One thing more--will you both dine with me next week, Thursday? [_There is an embarra.s.sed pause, which, with quick intuition, she understands._] Yes, you _will_--for _silence_ gives consent! [_Laughing._] Now, that's settled!

STERLING. What an awfully good sort you are!

MISS G.o.dESBY. Thanks, not always--I've been a mucker more than once in my life! I must go [_Shaking hands with_ BLANCHE.] and relieve Mr. Mason of my brother, or he'll be accusing me of inhuman treatment; more than one consecutive hour of my brother ought to be prevented by the police.

BLANCHE. You are very, _very_ good.

MISS G.o.dESBY. I think if you and I can get well over this, we'll be real friends, and I haven't many, have you?

BLANCHE. [_Takes her hand._] You can count upon me and my boy so long as we live.

[_She impulsively but tenderly kisses her._

[MISS G.o.dESBY _is very much surprised, but moved._

MISS G.o.dESBY. [_Half laughing, half crying, and pulling her veil down to hide her emotion._] By George! I haven't been kissed by a woman for years! Good-by.

[WARDEN _starts to go out with_ MISS G.o.dESBY. BLANCHE _stops him._

BLANCHE. Wait one moment--I want to speak alone to Miss G.o.desby.

[MISS G.o.dESBY _goes out Left._

BLANCHE. [_Aside to_ STERLING.] You tell him; I cannot. Tell him the _truth_.

[_She goes out after_ MISS G.o.dESBY.

WARDEN. d.i.c.k.

STERLING. Ned?

WARDEN. I have nothing to say to you, Sterling.

[WARDEN _looks away and whistles a tune to show his unwillingness to listen._ STERLING _speaks clearly so_ WARDEN _shall hear._

STERLING. I have a message for you from my wife. [_There is a second's pause._ WARDEN _stops whistling and turns and looks at_ STERLING.] She asks me to explain--to tell--to tell you a decision she has come to.

[_There is another pause._

WARDEN. Yes?

[_Anxious, at a supreme tension, and now a little alarmed as to the decision._

STERLING. She has decided not to leave my house.

WARDEN. [_Adds._] _Yet!_