Belle (looking up with a feeble smile). So soon?

Jack. I’ve got some more time-tables.

Belle. Where’s it to be?

Jack. I’m tired of the Europe business.  It takes so long, getting to Switzerland and Egypt.  I believe in seeing America first.

Belle. Where shall we go?  To Hoboken?

Jack. Stop laughing at me.  We’re going to Florida. (Draws up chair to table and spreads out R. R. folders and time-tables.)

Belle. Where do you get those?

Jack. At the ticket-office.  They give them away.

Belle. With those lovely pictures!  How nice of them!

Jack. Yes—­isn’t it!  Now—­here’s the Atlantic Coast line.  We leave New York at noon——­

Belle. But it’s night now, Jack.

Jack. I know—­but we’ve already started.

Belle (studying folder). This train leaves New York three times.

Jack. That’s the different ferries.  Let’s see.  At 10 p. m. we’ve just got to Richmond.  We reach Palm Beach at eleven in the evening——­

Belle. What?  A whole day on the train?

Jack. A day and a half, altogether.

Belle. Oh, Jack!  What did you have to pay for the tickets.

Jack. I tell you, Belle, you must never worry about expense when you’re travelling.  It spoils all the pleasure.  Now, let’s see.  We go to the Royal Palm Hotel.  Here’s a picture of it.

Belle. Oh, Jack!  What a heavenly place!

Jack. Of course, they color it up rather bright in these advertisements.

Belle. Won’t they charge us frightfully?

Jack. No, no.  You can stay there for ten dollars a day.

Belle. Ten dollars a day!  Jack, you don’t mean that?

Jack. We can’t expect to keep our expenses under that.

Belle. But that’ll be thirty dollars, Jack!  You know we’ve got Dolly with us.  We can’t travel alone.

Jack. No, no—­to be sure.

Belle. Do people really spend money like that, Jack?

Jack. You get a lot for it, Belle.  It’s the loveliest place in the world.  There are palm trees and flowers all the year round.  It never snows, and it’s seldom cold.  There’s a broad, white beach, and you lie and watch the green ocean, and the long white breakers rolling in, and the lines of pelicans flying just above them.  And, oh, the nights!  You’d think you could stretch out your hands and gather in armfuls of the stars!

Belle. Jack!  How perfectly lovely! (Stares before her; a silence.  Suddenly she buries her face in her arms on the table.)

Jack. Why Belle!  What’s the matter?

Belle. Oh, Jack!  Jack!

Jack (in distress). What is it?