her subdued
voices, in the tone of conventional sympathy which is usually adopted on
such occasions._ MRS. HUNTER _also assumes the manner of a martyr to
grief._ CLARA _is casual and hard._

MISS SILLERTON. [_Shakes hands with_ MRS. HUNTER.] Dear Mrs. Hunter.

[_She kisses her._

Clara, dear.

[_She kisses her._

[MISS GODESBY _goes to_ MRS. HUNTER _and shakes hands while_ MISS
SILLERTON _crosses to_ CLARA; _Trotter shakes hands with_ MRS. HUNTER
_as_ MISS GODESBY _goes to_ CLARA.

TROTTER. I hope you don't think my coming an intrusion.

MRS. HUNTER. Not at all.

MISS GODESBY. I felt we must stop in for a few minutes to give you our
love and sympathy and find out how you are.

MRS. HUNTER. I've been through a terrible strain. My loss is even
greater than I could ever possibly imagine.

CLARA. [_Who misinterprets her mother's remark._] Yes, indeed, I should
say it was!

[MRS. HUNTER _stops her with a warning look._

MRS. HUNTER. But every one has been most kind. _Lady Hopeton_ sent me a
beautiful long letter to-day.

MISS GODESBY. And I'm glad to find you looking so well. Black _suits_
you!

[_She exchanges a knowing glance with_ MISS SILLERTON.

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, I don't know, Julia; I've always thought black very
_trying_ for me.

MISS GODESBY. Oh, _no! every one's_ saying _just_ the reverse!

MRS. HUNTER. But--I suppose clothes don't interest you, Mr. Trotter?

TROTTER. Oh, yes, they do, out of sight!

CLARA. Well, I wish you could have seen the beautiful things we brought
over with us!

MISS SILLERTON. Julia and I were just speaking about it, and pitying you
from the bottom of our hearts.

[MISS SILLERTON _and_ MISS GODESBY _again exchange surreptitious
glances._

MRS. HUNTER. Every one's been most kind.

[_There is an awkward pause for a moment, no one knowing quite what to
say. Both_ MISS GODESBY _and_ MISS SILLERTON _have started the
conversation in the direction of clothing and are fearful of the topic
being changed. As the pause becomes embarrassing, they look helplessly
from one to the other, and all five, suddenly and at once, make an
ineffectual effort to say something--or nothing. Out of the general
confusion_ MRS. HUNTER _comes to the front, mistress of the situation._]
Are you going to stay in New York this winter, Mr. Trotter?

TROTTER. Yes, I'm negotiating for one of the biggest classy building
plots on upper Fifth Avenue.

CLARA. [_To_ MISS GODESBY.] I saw in the papers