CLARA. Poppa and I’re going skating!

[They go out Left.

GODESBY.  Hello, Warden.

WARDEN.  Good morning, Miss Godesby.

MISS GODESBY.  Good morning.

WARDEN.  How are you, Godesby?  I’ve come on a matter most serious, most urgent—­something very painful.

GODESBY.  What is it?

[Comes forward.

WARDEN.  Both of you trusted Dick Sterling.

MISS GODESBY.  What’s he done?

WARDEN.  Misused your funds.

GODESBY.  How d’you mean?

WARDEN.  I mean that the money you intrusted to him is gone, and I’ve come to make a proposition to you.

MISS GODESBY.  Gone?

[GODESBY and MISS GODESBY are aghast.  A second’s silence, during which GODESBY and MISS GODESBY look at each other, then back at WARDEN.

GODESBY.  Do you mean to say—­

WARDEN.  The money is gone, every penny of it, and I want you to accept a note from Sterling to cover the amount.

MISS GODESBY.  I can’t grasp it!

GODESBY.  Where is Sterling?  Why didn’t he come?

WARDEN.  He was ashamed.

GODESBY.  I should hope so!

WARDEN.  Several of us are going to stick by him; we’ll manage to put him on his feet again, and we want you to accept his note.

GODESBY. [Incredulous.] Accept his note?

MISS GODESBY. [Also incredulous.] On what security?

GODESBY. [Quickly.] You’ll do nothing of the sort, Julia!

MISS GODESBY.  I’ll see him where he belongs, in State’s Prison, first!

WARDEN.  That wouldn’t bring you back your money.

MISS GODESBY.  Neither will his note!

WARDEN.  If I get it indorsed?

GODESBY.  Likely!

MISS GODESBY.  Rather!

WARDEN.  I want your silence to keep it from the public for the family’s sake.  I’ve secured a satisfactory indorser for a note to satisfy Ryder’s claim.

MISS GODESBY.  Why didn’t you give him to me instead of Ryder?

WARDEN.  I felt you would be willing, out of friendship—­

[There are sleigh-bells in the distance, coming nearer.

MISS GODESBY.  Huh! you must take me for an idiot!

WARDEN.  Out of friendship for his wife.

MISS GODESBY.  Blanche Sterling!  I never could bear her!  She’s always treated me like the dirt under her feet!

WARDEN.  You dined with her last night.

MISS GODESBY.  That was to please her mother.  No, if my money’s gone, Sterling’s got to suffer, and the one slight consolation I shall have will be that Blanche Sterling will have to come off her high horse.

[The sleigh-bells stop.

GODESBY. [To MISS GODESBY.] Ten to one if you agree to sign this note—­

WARDEN.  And keep silent.