ELFIE.  Oh, forget that. [Rises, crosses to centre.

LAURA.  Maybe—­maybe if he knew all about it—­the suffering—­he wouldn’t blame me.

ELFIE.  Who—­the good man who wanted to lead you to the good life without even a bread-basket for an advance-agent?  Huh!

LAURA.  Still he doesn’t know how desperately poor I am.

ELFIE.  He knows you’re out of work, don’t he?

LAURA. [Turning to ELFIE.] Not exactly.  I’ve let him think that I’m getting along all right.

ELFIE.  Then you’re a chump.  Hasn’t he sent you anything?

LAURA.  He hasn’t anything to send.

ELFIE.  Well, what does he think you’re going to live on?—­asphalt croquettes with conversation sauce?

LAURA.  I don’t know—­I don’t know. [Sobbing.

ELFIE. [Crosses to LAURA, puts arms around her.] Don’t be foolish, dearie.  You know there is somebody waiting for you—­somebody who’ll be good to you and get you out of this mess.

LAURA.  You mean Will Brockton? [Looking up.

ELFIE.  Yes.

LAURA.  Do you know where he is?

ELFIE.  Yes.

LAURA.  Well?

ELFIE.  You won’t get sore again if I tell you, will you?

LAURA.  No—­why? [Rises.

ELFIE.  He’s downstairs—­waiting in the car.  I promised to tell him what you said.

LAURA.  Then it was all planned, and—­and—­

ELFIE.  Now, dearie, I knew you were up against it, and I wanted to bring you two together.  He’s got half of the Burgess shows, and if you’ll only see him everything will be fixed.

LAURA.  When does he want to see me?

ELFIE.  Now.

LAURA.  Here?

ELFIE.  Yes.  Shall I tell him to come up?

LAURA. [After a long pause, crossing around to bed, down-stage side.] Yes.

ELFIE. [Suddenly becomes animated.] Now you’re a sensible dear.  I’ll bet he’s half frozen down there. [Goes to door.] I’ll send him up.  Look at you, Laura, you’re a sight. [Crosses to LAURA, takes her by hand, leads her up to washstand, takes towel and wipes LAURA’S eyes.] It’ll never do to have him see you looking like this; come over here and let me fix your eyes.  Now, Laura, I want you to promise me you won’t do any more crying. [Leads LAURA over to dresser, takes powder-puff and powders LAURA’S face.] Come over here and let me powder your nose.  Now when he comes up you tell him he has got to blow us all off to a dinner to-night at Martin’s, seven-thirty.  Let me look at you.  Now you’re all right. [After daubing LAURA’S face with the rouge paw, ELFIE takes LAURA’S face in her hands and kisses her.] Make it strong now, seven-thirty, don’t forget.  I’ll be there. [Crosses to armchair, gathers up muff, &c.] So long.

[Exit.