[LOUISE _laughs._] It made me so mad seeing the people eat
everything the way they did.

LOUISE. Mamma, you're so amusing. Of course we do have good food; we
must get people here somehow.

MRS. CARLEY. And I not daring to eat a thing! Why is it nice things are
all fattening?

[_The_ FOOTMAN _goes out_.

LOUISE. [_Rises and comes to_ MRS. CARLEY.] Does it strike you that this
dress of mine makes me look too short-waisted?

MRS. CARLEY. Turn round. [LOUISE _does so._] Yes! don't wear it again.

LOUISE. [_Irritated._] Why didn't you tell me before lunch?

MRS. CARLEY. I didn't notice it!

LOUISE. [_Angry. Turns to mirror and then to_ MRS. CARLEY.] That's just
it! You don't care! You don't think of me ever! You only think of
yourself!

MRS. CARLEY. [_Angry._] That's not true. I've sacrificed my life for
you, and for what good?

LOUISE. What good! Good heavens, haven't Steve and I done everything for
you, lugged you into the best position almost in New York?

MRS. CARLEY. Yes, that's just it, "_almost!_" Your husband hates me and
you back him up--and keep me in the background!

LOUISE. I couldn't! You wouldn't stay there.

[_With a disagreeable laugh._

MRS. CARLEY. [_Sits in chair left of the table._] That's it, insult
me,--but I've had enough! I've made up my mind, anyway, to leave your
house and live by myself.

[_Whimpering._

LOUISE. Oh, stop, mamma. You know I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry!

MRS. CARLEY. [_Crying._] No, I'm in the way.

LOUISE. You're not in the way. You know I couldn't live without my
darling pretty little mamma. Please stop crying and kiss me.

[_Puts her arms around her._

MRS. CARLEY. [_Still crying._] I haven't anybody in the world but you.

LOUISE. Don't I know that, don't I know I couldn't get on without you!
There! [_Kisses her._] Now it's all right. Come on, darling, come up and
get your hair dyed.

MRS. CARLEY. [_Pleasantly._] Sh! don't _call_ it that!

LOUISE. I am irritable lately, I know it--but I see without our money
even Steve couldn't get us a decent position. We might just as well face
the truth. Certain people don't appreciate you and me, mamma. We aren't
even acquired tastes.

MRS. CARLEY. No one ever appreciated me long. I was prettier than you
were at your age, and my husbands both fell in love with me at first
sight. But I never wore well.

[_She takes a magazine from the table and begins to cut the pages._

LOUISE. I wonder if Georgiana _will