BELLA.  Oh!

GEORGIANA.  Lovely, Louise!

LOUISE.  I’ve got a splitting headache. [Man’s voice outside, “Extra—­Extra."] What can the extra be? [Enter STEVEN.] Steve, do you know what the extra is?

STEVEN.  Oh, they’re never anything you know.

[In distance are heard several voices at once at different distances, all calling, “Extra—­Extra—­Terrible”—­etc.

MRS. CARLEY.  Yes, they’re always so disappointing, generally a railway accident out west! or a bomb thrown in Europe.  Are you ready, Georgiana?

[The “Extras” are louder.

STEVEN.  Yes, if we’re going we ought to go.

["Extra—­Extra,” called underneath the window.

GEORGIANA.  Listen, what did he say?

[Voice shouts outside, “Terrible fight in the Philippines; an entire regiment wiped out!"

BELLA. [Frightened.] I heard “Philippines.”

[Goes to the window.

GEORGIANA.  And a terrible fight!  Some one must get the paper!

STEVEN.  We haven’t time now, Georgy.

MRS. CARLEY.  Yes, we must be there before the Grand Duke arrives.

[Outside, “Extra—­Extra!"

GEORGIANA.  I must see that paper, Steve.

MRS. CARLEY.  Georgiana, I think you are too thoughtless.

[Outside, “Entire regiment wiped out!"

GEORGIANA.  Steve, do you hear that!  Will you get the paper or shall I call to the man?

STEVEN.  I’ll get it. [Goes to a window and opens it, pulling aside the curtain.  He calls down to the boy in the street.] Here!  Hi!  Extra!

[Voice outside, “Here you are, boss!"

STEVEN.  Ring the bell.

[He comes back into the room.  One “Extra” is heard louder than before, and then the cries gradually die away.

MRS. CARLEY.  The carriage has already been here nearly an hour.

GEORGIANA.  It if should be Dick’s fight, if it should be Dick’s regiment!

LOUISE.  Make up your mind, mother, to be a little late.  We can’t go till we see the paper.

GEORGIANA. [At the door Right.] Lizzie!  Where is she?  Didn’t he go to the door with the paper, Steve?

BELLA.  I’ll see, miss.

[She goes out Right.

STEVEN.  Yes.  I saw him.  But, Georgy, it won’t be Dick’s regiment.

MRS. CARLEY. [By the sofa.] Louise, I’ll tell you what we’ll do, let’s go down and be getting on our wraps.

LOUISE.  No, mother, wait.

GEORGIANA.  No, Louise, go down, please, with mother.  I’d rather.

MRS. CARLEY. [Going out Left.] Yes, come along.

[LOUISE looks at GEORGIANA, who nods her head “Yes” to go.

LOUISE.  I’ll come back.

[She follows MRS. CARLEY out. LIZZIE enters Right with the paper. GEORGIANA takes the paper from LIZZIE, who immediately goes out Right.