(The positions now become as follows:—­WILLIAM back of table R.; HELEN O’NEILL seated above table; MISS EASTWOOD seated below console table R. end of chesterfield; ROSALIE seated C. chesterfield; MRS. CROSBY seated in arm-chair up C.; MASON standing upper end of table R.; MISS ERSKINE seated up L.C.; MRS. TRENT seated in chair L.C.; STANDISH standing L. of MRS. TRENT, and TRENT seated L.C.; CROSBY down L.C.  DONOHUE seated lower end of table R.)

Now, I can see you all quite comfortably.

(POLLOCK enters door L.C., closes door—­crosses to door L. and exits, closing the door.)

As I started to say a moment ago, I shall have to find out something about each of you.  You, madam? (He turns to MRS. CROSBY.)

MRS. CROSBY (seated in arm-chair C.).  I’m Alicia Crosby.  Mrs. Roscoe Crosby.

(He makes notes on paper in front of him.)

DONOHUE.  I’m sorry to trouble you, Miss—­(He points his pencil at MISS
ERSKINE, seated L.C.)

MISS ERSKINE.  Elizabeth Erskine.  I’m—­

DONOHUE.  It’s not necessary to tell your age.

MISS ERSKINE.  I wasn’t going to.  I’m the daughter of Edward Erskine, my father is the banker.

DONOHUE.  I know him.  Thank you.  You are then merely a guest here?

MISS ERSKINE.  A friend.

DONOHUE.  Miss Eastwood, I already know.  And you, miss?

MISS STANDISH.  Grace Standish.

STANDISH.  My sister.

DONOHUE.  Oh!  And this young lady?

CROSBY (puts his hand on MRS. TRENT’S shoulder L.C.).  My daughter,
Mrs. Trent.  She and Trent here live with us.

DONOHUE.  And you, sir?

MASON (there is a pause).  Philip Mason. (At upper end of table R.)

DONOHUE.  That doesn’t tell me very much.

MASON (with a laugh).  There isn’t very much to tell.  I’m just a friend of the family.  We’ve known, each other for years.  I’ve lived in Paris for the last two or three years.  I’m a painter.

DONOHUE.  You mean an artist?

MASON.  Well, I don’t paint houses or fences, but I’d hardly call myself an artist—­yet.

DONOHUE.  Poor, I suppose?  I know you’ll pardon that question, won’t you?

MASON.  Quite all right, I assure you.  No, I’m not poor.

DONOHUE.  Thank you. (Turns toward WILLIAM, who is standing back of
HELEN’S chair above table R.) And you?

WILLIAM.  I’m young Crosby.

DONOHUE.  I see.  Live here, I suppose?

WILLIAM.  Certainly, where else should I live?

DONOHUE.  I thought perhaps you might be married.

CROSBY (L.C.).  He’s not, but if he were he’d live with us and—­

WILLIAM.  No, father.  When I marry I’ve got to have my own home and—­