[CLARA bites her lips in surprise and winks visibly to TOMPSON, who gives no sign and is otherwise imperturbable.

MISS SILLERTON. [To MISS GODESBY, looking hard at her.] My dear, your hat pin is coming out!

MISS GODESBY. [Looking hard at her.] No, it isn’t; it’s always like that.

MISS SILLERTON. [Going closer to her, whispers.] Which does that mean?  I forget!

MISS GODESBY.  It’s a gouge!

MISS SILLERTON.  I can’t help it; I can’t resist.

MISS HUNTER. [Whispers to CLARA.] She’s going to take it; I wish I’d asked more.

MISS SILLERTON.  Mrs. Hunter, I’ll take the dinner dress!  I’m crazy about it!

MRS. HUNTER.  I’m glad to have you have it; I’m glad to be able to do you, in a way, a favor.

[MARIE at this moment enters dressed in the most exquisite ball dress of the very latest fashion and looks extremely lovely.

CLARA.  Here’s mine!  I could cry to think I’ll never wear it!

MARIE. Voila, madame!

[A short silence, while the women sit down and drink in the gown.

MISS SILLERTON. [In a subdued voice of awed admiration.] Beautiful!

MISS GODESBY.  Great!

TROTTER. [To MISS GODESBY.] I’m stuck on the girl; introduce me. 
She’s out of sight!

[MRS. HUNTER sighs long and loud,—­a sigh of appreciation and admiration. MARIE stands in the centre of the stage facing the audience.

MISS GODESBY.  May we see her back?

CLARA.  Her entire back, if she turns around!

MRS. HUNTER.  Turn around, Marie.

MARIE. Oui, madame.

[She turns her back—­the dress is cut extremely in the back.

MISS SILLERTON.  Oh!

MISS GODESBY.  Rather!

MRS. HUNTER.  The way everything is made this year.

MISS GODESBY.  I’m afraid my back is rather full of bones.

CLARA.  They told us in Paris, bones were coming in! [She takes a large American beauty rose from a vase on the piano and slips it down MARIE’S back so that the dress seems much less decollete.] There, never too late to mend!

MISS GODESBY.  How much is this one?

[MISS GODESBY and MISS SILLERTON examine the dress.

CLARA. [Whispers to MRS. HUNTER.] You paid two hundred for it!

MRS. HUNTER.  Three hundred dollars.  It is really superb.

MISS SILLERTON. [Pulling MISS GODESBY around quickly.] My dear, your hat pin is coming out!

MISS GODESBY.  Don’t be absurd!

MISS SILLERTON.  What?

MISS GODESBY.  It’s my turn, sit down; you got the last!  You won’t mind my being frank, Mrs. Hunter?

MRS. HUNTER. [On the defensive.] Certainly not.