The Climbers eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 124 pages of information about The Climbers.

The Climbers eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 124 pages of information about The Climbers.

MISS SILLERTON.  Thank you.

[TOMPSON goes out Right.

MISS GODESBY.  Only stay a minute or two, Trotty—­we’re doing our best for you, but we must look out for ourselves, too, and we’ve come here to-day on business.

MISS SILLERTON.  How’ll we ever get the subject on to clothes?

MISS GODESBY.  Humph!  Do you think you can talk five minutes with Mrs.
Hunter and not hit that topic?  It’s a bull’s eye!

TROTTER.  I don’t see where I’m going to come into this classy conversation.

MISS GODESBY.  You see, Trotty, they brought over piles of clothes from Europe this year, and we want to get hold of them before any one else has a chance—­get ’em cheap before they have an idea anybody else’ll buy them.

TROTTER.  Who buy what?

MISS SILLERTON. We—­buy their winter clothes.

TROTTER.  For Heaven’s sake!

MISS GODESBY.  Laugh, you silly!  I heard the Reed girls planning to come to-morrow.  They didn’t dare come to-day.  Those girls haven’t any sand!  They’re always getting left.

TROTTER.  You two are Dodo birds!

MISS GODESBY.  I say, Eleanor, you’re such a lobster about prices and Mrs. Hunter’s no idiot, we’d better agree on some sort of a signal!  Listen! if you like a gown very much, ask the price, then say to me, “My dear, your hat pin is coming out.”  And if I think it’s a bargain, I’ll say, “So it is, thank you; won’t you put it in for me?” And if I think Mrs. Hunter’s trying to stick you, I’ll say “No, it isn’t; it’s always like that.”

MISS SILLERTON.  All right.

[MRS. HUNTER and CLARA enter Right.  The manner of MISS SILLERTON and MISS GODESBY changes immediately.  They speak with rather subdued voices, in the tone of conventional sympathy which is usually adopted on such occasions. MRS. HUNTER also assumes the manner of a martyr to grief. CLARA is casual and hard.

MISS SILLERTON. [Shakes hands with MRS. HUNTER.] Dear Mrs. Hunter.

[She kisses her.

Clara, dear.

[She kisses her.

[MISS GODESBY goes to MRS. HUNTER and shakes hands while MISS SILLERTON crosses to CLARA; Trotter shakes hands with MRS. HUNTER as MISS GODESBY goes to CLARA.

TROTTER.  I hope you don’t think my coming an intrusion.

MRS. HUNTER.  Not at all.

MISS GODESBY.  I felt we must stop in for a few minutes to give you our love and sympathy and find out how you are.

MRS. HUNTER.  I’ve been through a terrible strain.  My loss is even greater than I could ever possibly imagine.

CLARA. [Who misinterprets her mother’s remark.] Yes, indeed, I should say it was!

[MRS. HUNTER stops her with a warning look.

MRS. HUNTER.  But every one has been most kind. Lady Hopeton sent me a beautiful long letter to-day.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Climbers from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.