National Committee are at your father's——

Betty

They were there—they've adjourned to Thaddeus Stevens' house across the street from us—— They were locked in with father for two hours——

Mrs. Lincoln

Locked in——?

Betty

[Nods.]

With the keyhole chinked up——!

Mrs. Lincoln

And you didn't get a hint of what they're up to——?

Betty

Not the faintest——

Mrs. Lincoln

Oh, Betty—they're discussing me——

Betty

They didn't mention your name——

Mrs. Lincoln

How do you know——?

Betty

Well—I did hear a little——! I could hear from the next room when they got excited! It's Abraham Lincoln they're discussing—not his wife——

Mrs. Lincoln

You're sure——?

Betty

Sure——! It sounded like a regular dog fight—with one big brute howling——

[Imitates.]

—the President's name above the din——

Mrs. Lincoln

But, you can't be sure, my dear——

Betty

What on earth could they be discussing you for——?

Mrs. Lincoln

My loyalty, of course—you know that my brothers are in the Southern Army, fighting the Union. Fools have accused me of giving them important secrets of the Government. When I hate them for all they have done to me and mine——!

Betty

But my dear Mrs. Lincoln—no one believes such lies about you now—not even in this bitter campaign—it's absurd——

Mrs. Lincoln

[Hesitates.]

That is not the real thing I'm afraid of, child—it's something worse—I'm going to take you into my confidence now—may I?

Betty

I'll be tickled to death with the honor——!

Mrs. Lincoln

And I'm going to ask you to help me——

Betty

I'll be in the Cabinet next——!

Mrs. Lincoln

The truth is, I owe A. T. Stewart and Company an enormous bill for dresses—$60,000——

Betty

Sixty thousand—oh, my Lord! That's worse than mine——!

Mrs. Lincoln

I had to get them! The world said the White House would be disgraced by my awkward husband's régime—I've shown them better! But I just couldn't tell Mr. Lincoln. He has no idea of the cost of clothes. If these jackals have found out and attack him on my account, the thought of it will kill me——

Betty

But you know he'd defend you against any one who dares attack you.

Mrs. Lincoln

Yes, dear—but it would hurt him so to hear it from their brutal lips. I want you to find out from your father, if they know——

Betty

And if they know——?

Mrs. Lincoln

Get here before they do, and I'll head them off—I'll tell Mr. Lincoln first——

Betty

[Smiling.]

On one condition—that you help me——

Mrs. Lincoln

Anything you ask——

Betty

I've promised my fiancé that I would get an appointment for him to see the President on something very important——

Mrs. Lincoln

Mr. Lincoln will be here in a few minutes. I'll have him see your sweetheart first——

Betty

But—it's a personal matter and he doesn't wish to come to a public reception. He wants an hour alone—— Could you get it for him, to-night?

Mrs. Lincoln

I—think—so——

Betty

You'll try——?

Mrs. Lincoln

I'll do it, child—certainly! You're one loyal friend we have in that crowd of wolves on the Capitol Hill——

Betty

All right, I'll find out if they're discussing politics or your dressmaker's bill.

[Betty hurries to the door, followed by Mrs. Lincoln.]

Mrs. Lincoln

God bless you, child——

[Nicolay enters by the other door.]

—Hurry!

Betty

If it's dresses—I'll beat them to the White House!

[Betty exits.]

Nicolay

The President is coming, Madam——

Mrs. Lincoln

I'm going. But I may want to see him before that Committee—in case I send in—see that he comes, will you?

Nicolay

I'll try to manage it. The friends of the Chief may call on you for some inside work, Madam.

Mrs. Lincoln

[Eagerly.]

I'll do my part, never fear!

[Mrs. Lincoln exits and Nicolay hastily arranges his desk and stands at attention as Lincoln enters.]

[Lincoln crosses the room with long nervous stride, reaches his desk, looks at the pile of letters and shakes his head wearily.]

Lincoln

Sorry for you, John, with all these letters on your hands——

[Laughs.]

You have to work——!

Nicolay

I'm trying to get them out of your way, sir——

Lincoln

Thank you—you know the ones I want to see——

Nicolay

Yes, sir——

Lincoln

[Softly.]

And don't forget that no man or woman can be turned from that door, who comes here to ask for the saving of a human life——

[Pauses.]

There's a firing squad shooting a boy down in Virginia this morning——!

[Shakes his head.]

I hope I didn't do wrong to let them. Somehow I could not find an excuse to save him——

[Sighs.]

The Generals are all after me about my pardons——

Nicolay

The Secretary of War is out there now, champing his bit, to head you off on some of them, I think——

Lincoln

Don't let old Mars in yet. He's no business here at this hour. Let him paw a hole in the ground.

[Pauses.]

Any news from the front, this morning?

Nicolay

[Handing him a telegram.]

From General Grant's lines—only this, sir——

Lincoln

[Reads.]

"Confederate Cavalry raiders capture a Brigadier General and fifty army mules."—Too bad—rush a regiment after the mules—they're worth $200 a piece—Jeff Davis can have my Brigadier General——!

Nicolay

[Laughs.]

Yes, sir—and this came in code from Sherman—

[Hands Lincoln another telegram.]

Lincoln

[Eagerly.]

Word from Sherman! Good!

[Reads.]

—"Scouts report Hood's trenches before Atlanta are impregnable—carefully considering a flank movement—but as yet, I cannot find the position or strength of Hood's second line——" W. T. Sherman——

[Pauses.]

Grant's