class="smcap">Ethel. Sh-h! He's one of the men I've promised.

Fanshaw. [Laughing.] Never mind. I'm the other. [All laugh. Gertrude says, "Oh, Ethel!" Gertrude goes toward Marion, Ethel and Kitty at same time. Marion exits.

Fanshaw. [To Trimmins.] Who are you dancing the cotillon with, Trimmins?

Trimmins. Ethel Stevens!

Fanshaw. Who?

Trimmins. Ethel Stevens!

Fanshaw. I'll bet a fiver you're not. She's dancing with me.

Trimmins. [Very pleased.] Delighted! I owe you the five with joy. [Rushes Fanshaw out of the way. Crossing to Gertrude.] Will you give me the pleasure? [Douglas out at back, exits.] Thank you. [Offers his arm, which Gertrude takes, and they go out at back.

Fanshaw. Well!

Marion. Are you going to stand perfectly still and be robbed in that manner? [Laughing.

Fanshaw. Well, but what am I— [Interrupted by one of the girl guests, who says, "I'm here!"] Oh, so you are. [Puts his arm in hers, and they run off together.

Ethel. Marion, isn't Mr. Ned Fletcher coming to-night?

Marion. Yes. [Exit.

Kitty. I'm so glad; he's quite the most amusing man in town this winter. [Sitting on chair which servant left.

Ethel. And so many people won't ask him to their houses, you know. Mamma won't.

Kitty. Well, you know, your mother's a ridiculous person; she asks lots of awfully fast men!

Ethel. Yes, but they are all relatives.

Kitty. [Putting arm around Ethel, pricks her finger.] I don't believe Net Fletcher is as bad as people hint. He's too good looking. [Fixing dress.

Ethel. And I don't care whether he's bad or not, he's charming enough to make up for it. Besides, I suppose all men are bad.

Kitty. Oh—I don't know.

Ethel. I mean all nice men.

Kitty. Where has Mr. Fletcher been before this winter?

Ethel. My dear, he's one of those men who live all over the place—most of the time in Europe—but he's been here always off and on—and in Newport and in Lenox he has yachts and things, don't you know! [Exits down right.

Marion. [Enters.] Girls, will you go into the ball-room, till the men get the tables ready here? [She speaks aside to one of the servants, and exits. Servants bring on small table and place it with bottles, lunch, etc., a broken glass covered with napkins to fall on stage. Place seven chairs about table. Exit.

Ethel. Of course. [To Kitty, crossing to her.] Do you notice how she won't talk about Fletcher and won't listen to any one else either?

Kitty. My dear, she's heels over head.

Ethel. Poor Douglas Rhodes! [Half smiling, in part satire.

Kitty. Serves him right for hanging around her all his life! Why didn't he flirt with one of us girls for a time, if only to make her jealous! [Ethel sees Douglas enter, and tries to warn Kitty. Ethel gives Kitty a violent pull of the arm to warn her to stop speaking of Douglas.

Ethel. [To Douglas.] You can't stay here; we're driven out.

Kitty. Come, help us make fun of the other people.

Douglas. In a few minutes. I must give you a chance to make fun of me!

Kitty. Oh, we've been doing that for years! [Ethel blows Douglas' whistle which he has suspended from neck, pulling it out of his pocket. Ethel and Kitty smile coquettishly at Douglas and exit into ball-room, arm in arm. Distant music off stage. Douglas follows up centre. A pause. Enter Marion. Douglas, up stage, looks admiringly at her, and smiles. Then, smiling and putting himself into a boyish attitude, he says boyishly.

Douglas. Hello, Molly!

Marion. [Smiling back, catching his mood, speaks girlishly.] Hello, Dug! It does take one back to old days, doesn't it!

Douglas. That was what I was thinking of, Marion, the days of dancing-school. How good you were to always be my partner, even though I couldn't reverse without treading on your toes!

Marion. [Smiling.] You were a bad dancer—and death to slippers.

Douglas. And the children's parties, with the old games, "Post Office," "Copenhagen," "Kiss in the Ring."

Marion. [Smiling mischievously.] You were good enough at "Kiss in the Ring" to make up for your not reversing.

Douglas. [With real sentiment, crosses to her.] Do you remember it all as well as I do?

Marion. [Realizing his sentiment, and trying to change their mood, but pleasantly.] Of course I do! We were great friends then, as we are now, and as I hope we always will be, Douglas.

Douglas. But if we played the old games again, would it be the same?

Marion. No, no, things are never the same.

Douglas. But would you let me choose you always? Would you pretend not to see me coming, so I could slap your hands on the Copenhagen rope and take my reward? If we played "Post Office," would I have all my letters from your lips! Would you mind if, in "bow to the wittiest, kneel to the prettiest, and kiss the one you loved best," I choose you again, openly, for all three? Would you give me all your dances?

Marion. [More serious, though still smiling kindly, sweetly.] That's just it, Douglas! You can reverse now, and there are so many other girls wanting partners!

Douglas. But— [Interrupted.

Marion. Besides, after all, we're only children outside to-night; our hearts have come of age!

Douglas. Yes, Marion, but, boy's and man's, my heart's the same. I want the same partner I did then, only I want her for the game of life!

Marion. I am so sorry!

Douglas. Sorry? Then you