She kisses him; tears are in her eyes.  He looks into her face with a quaint smile.

JOHN.  You’re on, ain’t you, dear?

LAURA.  Yes, I’m on.

JOHN.  Then [Points toward door with his left arm over her shoulder.] call him.

LAURA.  Brockton?

JOHN.  Yes, and tell him you go back to New York without any travelling companion this season.

LAURA.  Now?

JOHN.  Sure.

LAURA.  You want to hear me tell him?

JOHN. [With a smile.] We’re partners, aren’t we?  I ought to be in on any important transaction like that, but it’s just as you say.

LAURA.  I think it would be right you should.  I’ll call him now.

JOHN.  All right. [Crossing to stairway.  LAURA crosses to door; twilight is becoming very much more pronounced.

LAURA. [At door.] Mr. Brockton!  Oh, Mr. Brockton!

WILL. [Off stage.] Yes.

LAURA.  Can you spare a moment to come out here?

WILL.  Just a moment.

LAURA.  You must come now.

WILL.  All right. [She waits for him and after a reasonable interval he appears at door.] Laura, it’s a shame to lure me away from that mad speculation in there.  I thought I might make my fare back to New York if I played until next summer.  What’s up?

LAURA.  Mr. Madison wants to talk to you, or rather I do, and I want him to listen.

WILL. [His manner changing to one of cold, stolid calculation.] Very well. [Comes down off step of house.

LAURA.  Will.

WILL.  Yes?

LAURA.  I’m going home day after to-morrow on the Overland Limited.

WILL.  I know.

LAURA.  It’s awfully kind of you to come out here, but under the circumstances I’d rather you’d take an earlier or a later train.

WILL.  And may I ask what circumstances you refer to?

LAURA.  Mr. Madison and I are going to be married. [Pause.] He [Will looks inquiringly at JOHN.] knows of your former friendship for me, and he has the idea that it must end.

WILL.  Then the Riverside Drive proposition, with Burgess’s show thrown in, is declared off, eh?

LAURA.  Yes; everything is absolutely declared off.

WILL.  Can’t even be friends any more, eh?

JOHN crosses, and, taking LAURA’S arm, passes her over to seat; his back is partly to audience.

JOHN.  You could hardly expect Miss Murdock to be friendly with you under the circumstances.  You could hardly expect me to [LAURA puts scarf across her shoulders.] sanction any such friendship.

WILL.  I think I understand your position, young man, and I perfectly agree with you, that is—­if your plans come out successfully.

JOHN.  Thank you.

LAURA.  Then everything is settled [Crossing in front of JOHN and facing WILL, back to audience.] just the way it ought to be—­frankly and aboveboard?