she reads._] "I have discovered my son-in-law, Richard
Sterling, in irregular business dealing. He is not honest. I will watch
him as long as I live; but when you read this, Mason, keep your eye upon
him for my daughter's sake. He has been warned by me--he may never trip
again, and her happiness lies in ignorance." [_She starts, and looks
about her to make sure she is alone. She then sits staring ahead for a
few seconds; then she speaks._] My boy's father dishonest! Disgrace--he
owned it--threatening _my_ boy! It mustn't come! It mustn't! _I'll_
watch now. [_She goes to the fireplace, tearing the paper as she crosses
the room, she burns the letter; then she gathers up the other letters
and the pocket case._] He must give me his word of honor over Richard's
little bed to-night that he will do nothing to ever make the boy ashamed
of bearing his father's name!

[_She watches to see that every piece of the paper burns, as_

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT II

_Christmas Eve; fourteen months later; the dining room of the Hunters'
house, which is now lived in jointly by the_ STERLINGS _and_ MRS. HUNTER
_and her daughters. It is a dark wainscoted room, with curtains of
crimson brocade. It is decorated with laurel roping, mistletoe, and
holly, for Christmas. It is the end of a successful dinner party,
fourteen happy and more or less congenial persons being seated at a
table, as follows:_ WARDEN, RUTH, MASON, CLARA, TROTTER, MRS. HUNTER,
BLANCHE, STERLING, MISS SILLERTON, MR. GODESBY, JESSICA, DOCTOR
STEINHART, _and_ MISS GODESBY. _The room is dark on all sides, only a
subdued light being shed on the table by two large, full candelabra with
red shaded candles. As the curtain rises the bare backs of the three
women nearest the footlights gleam out white. Candied fruit and other
sweetmeats are being passed by four men servants, including_ JORDAN
_and_ LEONARD.

RUTH. My dear Blanche, what delicious candy!

MISS SILLERTON. Isn't it!

MISS GODESBY. Half of the candy offered one nowadays seems made of
_papier-mache_.

MRS. HUNTER. [_To_ MISS GODESBY.] Julia, do tell me how Mr. Tomlins
takes his wife's divorce?

MISS GODESBY. He takes it with a grain of salt!

MRS. HUNTER. But isn't he going to bring a counter suit?

STERLING. No.

RUTH. I hope not. I am an old-fashioned woman and don't believe in
divorce!

MISS GODESBY. Really! But then you're not married!

MISS SILLERTON. What is the reason for so much divorce n