RUTH.  If he saw you patiently bearing a cross for the sake of duty, can you imagine a stronger force for good on the boy’s character?  What an example you will set him!  What a chance for a mother!

BLANCHE.  But my own life, my own happiness?

RUTH.  Ah, my dear, that’s just it!  The watchword of our age is self!  We are all for ourselves; the twentieth century is to be a glorification of selfishness, the Era of Egotism!  Forget yourself, and what would you do?  The dignified thing.  You would live quietly beside your husband if not with him.  And your son would be worthy of such a mother!

BLANCHE.  And I?

RUTH.  You would be glad in the end.

BLANCHE.  Perhaps—­

RUTH.  Surely!  Blanche, for twenty years Mr. Mason and I have loved each other.

[BLANCHE is astonished.  There is a pause.

[RUTH smiles while she speaks, though her voice breaks.]

You never guessed!  Ah, well, your father knew.

BLANCHE.  But Mrs. Mason is hopelessly insane; surely—­

RUTH.  A principle is a principle; I took my stand against divorce.  What can you do for a principle if you don’t give up everything for it?  Nothing!  And that is what I mean.  To-day I am not sorry—­I am happy.

[There is another slight pause. RICHARD is heard upstairs singing a Christmas carol, “Once in Royal David’s City,” etc.

BLANCHE. [With great emotion.] But if it breaks my heart—­if it breaks my heart?

RUTH.  Hearts don’t break from the pain that comes of doing right, but from the sorrow of doing wrong! [Neither woman speaks for a minute; in the silence RUTH hears RICHARD.] What’s that?

BLANCHE. [Hearing now for the first time.] Richard singing one of his carols.

RUTH.  I’d forgotten it was Christmas.

[LEONARD enters Left.

LEONARD.  Doctor Steinhart is here to see Mr. Sterling.  Where shall I show him, madame?

BLANCHE.  Here; we’ll go—­

[Rising.

LEONARD.  Yes, madame.

[He goes out.

RUT.  Well?  What are you going to do?

BLANCHE.  I’m thinking—­

RUTH.  May I come with you, or shall I—­

BLANCHE.  No, come.

[The two women start to leave the room together Right, with their arms around each other.  They meet STERLING, who enters; he starts, they stop.

STERLING.  I beg your pardon, I didn’t know you were here.

BLANCHE.  We are going to my room; I am sorry you are not well.

STERLING.  Oh, it’s nothing, thank you.

RUTH.  If we can do anything, let us know.

STERLING. [Overwhelmed with shame, bows his head.] Thank you.

[The women go out Right.  At the same moment DR. STEINHART is shown in by LEONARD Left.