MISS GODESBY.  I think the price is too much.

TROTTER.  Oh, go on, pay it!

MISS GODESBY.  Will you sign the check?

TROTTER. Excuse me!

CLARA.  I’d give twice that if only I could wear it to one ball this winter!

MRS. HUNTER.  I wouldn’t part with it for a penny less.  I couldn’t afford to.

[The manners and voices of all become a little strained.

MISS GODESBY.  That is of course your affair.

MRS. HUNTER. [Politely.] We needn’t keep Marie any longer, at any rate, need we?  You can go, Marie, and you too, Tompson.

[CLARA and MRS. HUNTER help place the other dresses on TOMPSON’S arms.

MISS SILLERTON. [To MISS GODESBY, on the opposite side of the room, in a lowered voice.] I’ll take it; I’m willing to pay that.

MISS GODESBY.  Don’t you dare interfere!  I want the gown, but I know she’ll come down,—­if she doesn’t, I’ll make a bluff at going.  Then if she sticks to her price, I’ll come back and pay it.

[They turn to MRS. HUNTER.

MISS SILLERTON.  Oh, Mrs. Hunter, may I see my dress just one more minute?

MRS. HUNTER.  Certainly.

[She and CLARA come back with the dress.

MARIE. [To TOMPSON by the door at Right.]

Vite! Come!  Come!  Jordan ’ave stole ze photograph machine of Mees Clara, and he make now one pigsher of me in ze dress!

[Smiling mischievously, delighted, she goes out Right.

MISS SILLERTON.  Thank you.

[She leaves her dress.

MRS. HUNTER.  Take this too, Tompson.

TOMPSON.  Yes, madam.

[MRS. HUNTER speaks to TOMPSON, aside, and CLARA, near them, watches the two visitors out of the corner of her eye.

MISS GODESBY. [Aside to MISS SILLERTON.] I’ll leave my muff; that’ll be a good excuse to come back.

TROTTER. [Also in a lowered voice to MISS GODESBY.] Dodo!

[TOMPSON goes out Right.

[MRS. HUNTER and CLARA come back.

MISS GODESBY.  You really couldn’t take less than three hundred?

MRS. HUNTER.  I wish I could if only for your own sake; but I really couldn’t in justice to myself.

MISS GODESBY.  I’m very sorry—­and I’m afraid we must be going now.

MRS. HUNTER. [Not believing they will go.] Oh, must you?  Well, it was very kind of you to come.

[MISS GODESBY leaves her muff upon the table at the Left.

MISS SILLERTON. [Shakes hands with MRS. HUNTER.] Good-by.

[She goes on to CLARA.

[MISS GODESBY comes to shake hands with MRS. HUNTER.

MRS. HUNTER.  I think you’re making a mistake not to take the dress,
Julia dear.

MISS GODESBY.  Perhaps, but I really can’t go more than two hundred and fifty.