BLANCHE.  It’s as well—­I’ve decided.  Oh, I wonder if I’m doing wrong.

[Looking him straight in the face.

WARDEN. [Looking back searchingly in hers to read the truth, but believing that she will certainly leave her husband.] No, you can’t do wrong!  But I must warn you of one thing—­I’m not any longer the controlled man I was.

MISS GODESBY.  Come along now, Mrs. Sterling, brace up and give me your name, and Warden, witness, please. [They do so.] Of course, my dears, I know perfectly well that legally this isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. [Exchanging a serious and meaning look with WARDEN.] But my idiot of a brother won’t realize that, which is the point.  One thing more—­will you both dine with me next week, Thursday? [There is an embarrassed pause, which, with quick intuition, she understands.] Yes, you will—­for silence gives consent! [Laughing.] Now, that’s settled!

STERLING.  What an awfully good sort you are!

MISS GODESBY.  Thanks, not always—­I’ve been a mucker more than once in my life!  I must go [Shaking hands with BLANCHE.] and relieve Mr. Mason of my brother, or he’ll be accusing me of inhuman treatment; more than one consecutive hour of my brother ought to be prevented by the police.

BLANCHE.  You are very, very good.

MISS GODESBY.  I think if you and I can get well over this, we’ll be real friends, and I haven’t many, have you?

BLANCHE. [Takes her hand.] You can count upon me and my boy so long as we live.

[She impulsively but tenderly kisses her.

[MISS GODESBY is very much surprised, but moved.

MISS GODESBY. [Half laughing, half crying, and pulling her veil down to hide her emotion.] By George!  I haven’t been kissed by a woman for years!  Good-by.

[WARDEN starts to go out with MISS GODESBY.  BLANCHE stops him.

BLANCHE.  Wait one moment—­I want to speak alone to Miss Godesby.

[MISS GODESBY goes out Left.

BLANCHE. [Aside to STERLING.] You tell him; I cannot.  Tell him the truth.

[She goes out after MISS GODESBY.

WARDEN.  Dick.

STERLING.  Ned?

WARDEN.  I have nothing to say to you, Sterling.

[WARDEN looks away and whistles a tune to show his unwillingness to listen. STERLING speaks clearly so WARDEN shall hear.

STERLING.  I have a message for you from my wife. [There is a second’s pause. WARDEN stops whistling and turns and looks at STERLING.] She asks me to explain—­to tell—­to tell you a decision she has come to.

[There is another pause.

WARDEN.  Yes?

[Anxious, at a supreme tension, and now a little alarmed as to the decision.

STERLING.  She has decided not to leave my house.