GEORGIANA. [Rising nervously.] Bella, I have some colored dresses I’d like to give you for your trousseau, if you care to take them.  They’ve not been worn very much.

BELLA.  Oh, Miss Georgiana, of course I’d take ’em—­only, I don’t know, I sort of feel it in my bones you’ll wear ’em yourself.

[STEVEN enters Left suddenly.  He tries to conceal his great excitement. MOLES is with him.

STEVEN. [To MOLES.] Tell Mrs. Carley I want to see her here, please.

MOLES.  Yes, sir.

[He goes out Right.

STEVEN.  Hello, Georgy!

GEORGIANA.  Steve!

STEVEN.  Good morning, Miss Shindle.

BELLA.  Good morning, Mr. Carley.  I must be going now, Miss Georgiana.

GEORGIANA.  But have you got enough for the article?

BELLA.  Oh, yes, miss—­Louise furniture, the Van Wyck picture, tapestry effects—­etcetra.  Thank you ever so much.  Good-by!

GEORGIANA.  Wait, I’ll tell you about the dining room.

[She goes out with BELLA Left, and LOUISE enters.

STEVEN.  Louise, it’s true!

LOUISE.  Oh, Steve!

STEVEN.  It was a press telegram and has been verified by private wire. 
Besides, Mrs. Coleman has a telegram from Dick himself.

LOUISE.  From where?

STEVEN.  From San Francisco, when the Colemans were at Palm Beach.  Their servants foolishly mailed the telegram to them, and before it arrived in Florida, they were on their way North, coming by easy stages.

LOUISE. [Rises.] And the message only just caught up with them!  Who will tell her?

[MOLES comes in Left with a note.

MOLES.  A note just come for you, sir, by Mr. Coleman’s man.

STEVEN.  We must break it very gently, prepare her a little for it if we can. [To MOLES.] Thanks. [Takes note, opens it, and reads it hurriedly.] He’s there!  With his father and mother!

MOLES. [Forgetting himself.] Oh, sir—­I’m so glad!  Excuse me, sir, but we’re all so glad, sir—­any answer sir?

[His eyes fill up.

STEVEN.  No, only tell Miss Georgiana I want to see her.

MOLES. [Who has to swallow a lump in his throat before he can speak.]
Yes, sir.

[He goes out Right.

LOUISE. [Wiping her eyes, goes to STEVEN.] What does it say?

STEVEN. [Reads the note.] “Dick and the answer from Washington arrived together!” He’ll be over here at once—­they won’t keep him.

LOUISE.  We must tell her before he gets here.

STEVEN.  Yes.

LOUISE.  We must do it very carefully.

STEVEN.  But we mustn’t lose any time.

[GEORGIANA comes in during this last speech, overhearing it.  A movement is made by others on GEORGIANA’S entrance.