GEORGIANA.  One can’t do everything in this world, Bella, and you must be content with being a real artiste in your own profession.

BELLA.  Yes, I will say without boasting, so to speak, I don’t believe there’s a soul in New York who can make hair go further and wear less, than me! [Laughs heartily.] What’s this room?  Of course it’s one of them Louis, I suppose, ain’t it? [Looks around the room.] Let me see, is it Louis Eleventimes?  I saw Henry Irving in that, it was fine!

GEORGIANA.  No, Bella, Henry Irving has never been in this room, and it’s Louis XVI.

BELLA.  Oh, of course! [Writing.] How well you’re looking, Miss Georgiana.  Look to me kinder as if you thought good news was in the wind!

[She glances at her surreptitiously, but down again quickly, frightened.

GEORGIANA.  Why, Bella?

BELLA.  Oh, that’s just my idea, that’s all.  What might this picture be? 
Shall we say—­er—­er—­Michael Ange?

GEORGIANA. [Suppressing a smile.] No, that is a Van Dyck.

BELLA.  Of course!  I might have known! [Writing.] This entire room is a fine bit, ain’t it?  All Louis—­[She looks back in her book.] 16, as a piece, I suppose?

GEORGIANA.  Yes.

BELLA.  So I see!  My!  How I love all this kind of thing.  I couldn’t live without a lot o’ bric-a-brah lying around sort of careless like and undusted.  These tapestries are real, I presume?

GEORGIANA.  Yes.

BELLA.  I thought so!  I got a beautiful piece of tapestry over my washstand, hand-painted, and all the faces and clothes outlined in chenille cross-stitch by the Singer Sewing Machine—­but it’s not quite the same as yours.

GEORGIANA.  It must be very pretty.

BELLA.  Oh, it adds a touch!  Mr. Gootch gave it to me for an engagement present.

GEORGIANA.  Does Mr. Gootch ever speak of Mr. Coleman?

BELLA.  He worships him—­naturally, as Mr. Coleman got wounded in both arms carrying him to a safe place!  Mr. Gootch says as there wasn’t a man in the regiment braver or as popular as Mr. Coleman.  Don’t you think, perhaps, sometimes, maybe, Miss Georgiana—­

[She stops near GEORGIANA.

GEORGIANA.  Maybe what—?

BELLA.  Oh, I dunno—­I—­

GEORGIANA. [Rising and going to the sofa.] Come, Bella, we must get on with your article.

[A pause.

BELLA. [Looking about.] Why, you haven’t got a cosy corner, have you?  And yet you seem to go in for the real artistic!  I don’t know what my sister ‘n’ I’d do without our cosy corner!  It is draped with a fish net, and has paper butterflies and beetles in it!  Very artistic!  And she’s got—­well, really now, I believe she’s got at least eleven pillers; counting the two ticking ones that has their covers come off at night for our bed!