MRS. CARLEY.  My dear! when Sarah Brint was married she looked like a widow! [LOUISE laughs.] It made me so mad seeing the people eat everything the way they did.

LOUISE.  Mamma, you’re so amusing.  Of course we do have good food; we must get people here somehow.

MRS. CARLEY.  And I not daring to eat a thing!  Why is it nice things are all fattening?

[The FOOTMAN goes out.

LOUISE. [Rises and comes to MRS. CARLEY.] Does it strike you that this dress of mine makes me look too short-waisted?

MRS. CARLEY.  Turn round. [LOUISE does so.] Yes! don’t wear it again.

LOUISE. [Irritated.] Why didn’t you tell me before lunch?

MRS. CARLEY.  I didn’t notice it!

LOUISE. [Angry.  Turns to mirror and then to MRS. CARLEY.] That’s just it!  You don’t care!  You don’t think of me ever!  You only think of yourself!

MRS. CARLEY. [Angry.] That’s not true.  I’ve sacrificed my life for you, and for what good?

LOUISE.  What good!  Good heavens, haven’t Steve and I done everything for you, lugged you into the best position almost in New York?

MRS. CARLEY.  Yes, that’s just it, “almost!” Your husband hates me and you back him up—­and keep me in the background!

LOUISE.  I couldn’t!  You wouldn’t stay there.

[With a disagreeable laugh.

MRS. CARLEY. [Sits in chair left of the table.] That’s it, insult me,—­but I’ve had enough!  I’ve made up my mind, anyway, to leave your house and live by myself.

[Whimpering.

LOUISE.  Oh, stop, mamma.  You know I didn’t mean anything.  I’m sorry!

MRS. CARLEY. [Crying.] No, I’m in the way.

LOUISE.  You’re not in the way.  You know I couldn’t live without my darling pretty little mamma.  Please stop crying and kiss me.

[Puts her arms around her.

MRS. CARLEY. [Still crying.] I haven’t anybody in the world but you.

LOUISE.  Don’t I know that, don’t I know I couldn’t get on without you!  There! [Kisses her.] Now it’s all right.  Come on, darling, come up and get your hair dyed.

MRS. CARLEY. [Pleasantly.] Sh! don’t call it that!

LOUISE.  I am irritable lately, I know it—­but I see without our money even Steve couldn’t get us a decent position.  We might just as well face the truth.  Certain people don’t appreciate you and me, mamma.  We aren’t even acquired tastes.

MRS. CARLEY.  No one ever appreciated me long.  I was prettier than you were at your age, and my husbands both fell in love with me at first sight.  But I never wore well.

[She takes a magazine from the table and begins to cut the pages.

LOUISE.  I wonder if Georgiana will marry Sammy!

MRS. CARLEY.  I wish to goodness she would.