[MRS. CARLEY and LOUISE come into the room from the Right without speaking.  They look from GEORGIANA to STEVEN. They are under the strain of violent emotion almost too much for words.  Their appearance is tragic.] There is a pause.

STEVEN.  Sam has told you?

LOUISE.  It isn’t true what he says?

MRS. CARLEY. [Bursting out, as the strain breaks.] That everything’s gone? Everything!

[MRS. CARLEY comes to STEVEN.

STEVEN.  Yes, it’s true!—­

[He moves up.

MRS. CARLEY. We haven’t a cent?—­not a penny! for car fare! for theatre tickets! nothing for our wash bills, or to go away with in the summer!

LOUISE.  Georgiana’s money gone too—­now, Steve?

MRS. CARLEY.  As well as Louise’s and mine?

GEORGIANA.  Yes, mine’s gone too now, but I’m going to take it just as sensibly as Louise did before me.

MRS. CARLEY.  She had yours to fall back on.

GEORGIANA.  And I’m going to take myself off your hands, and Steve is perfectly capable of getting some dignified position and taking care of you and Louise.

MRS. CARLEY.  Yes, I can imagine what that means!  A flat with rooms like a string of buttons, mantelpiece beds and divans! and all your friends trying to get into the bathroom when they are looking for the hall door to get out!

[COAST comes in from the Right.  They all look at SAM.

GEORGIANA.  Do you think Sam has a place here in what we may say now?

LOUISE.  Why not?  He’s my cousin.

MRS. CARLEY.  Yes.  And the only one of us now anyway who has a cent.

LOUISE.  I don’t think we can expect much help from Sam as to money.

COAST. That shows you don’t know me.

LOUISE. [Going to COAST.] You’ll help us?

COAST. I’ve offered to make up every cent Steve’s lost; ask Georgiana.

GEORGIANA.  Yes, Sam offered to make a “trade” with me—­

MRS. CARLEY.  How?

[Looks at GEORGIANA.

GEORGIANA.  To make up Steve’s losses if I’d marry him.

MRS. CARLEY. [Quietly to COAST.] Sam!  It’s too good to be true.

COAST. So Georgiana thinks.

LOUISE. [Angrily.] You won’t do it?

GEORGIANA.  No, I don’t love your cousin.

MRS. CARLEY.  Don’t love him!  What do you owe us?  Louise loved Steve and what good did it do her?  You’ve got the chance to make up for your brother!

STEVEN.  That’s not Georgiana’s duty,—­to make up for me.

MRS. CARLEY.  You can’t do it yourself, and you don’t want your wife to starve, do you.

GEORGIANA.  Louise won’t starve.

LOUISE. [To GEORGIANA.] You could save us and you won’t!

GEORGIANA.  I don’t love Sam.