and the profits
were _five_ thousand more!

GIBSON: But those were returns under the old commissions.

NORA: But last month, with new economies, we showed a larger profit than
you had!

GIBSON: And this month?

NORA: We shan't know that until the report's read at the meeting
to-morrow. I think it will be the largest profit of all.

CARTER: That bookkeeper's workin' on it to-day. Talked like he was going
to cut us down two or three thousand, mebbe. [_Laughing._] That's the
way he always talks.

NORA: He isn't a good influence.

CARTER: No--too gloomy, too gloomy to suit me!

GIBSON: What about the two other bookkeepers?

CARTER: The committee voted them into the packing department; and they
ain't much good even there. It's a crime!

NORA: They weren't needed. Our bookkeeping is so simplified since you
left!

GIBSON: It all seems to be simplified, Miss Gorodna.

NORA: Yes; and whatever problems come up, they're all settled at our
meetings.

[_A sound of squabbling is heard upon the street, growing
louder as the people engaging in it approach along the
sidewalk._]

CARTER: There's one we got to bring up and do something about at the
meetin' to-morrow.

GIBSON: What is it? [CARTER _goes up to the gate._]

NORA: It's that Mrs. Simpson; she's a great nuisance.

CARTER: Yes, it's her and Simpson and Frankel. The Simpsons moved into a
flat right up in this neighbourhood. Quite some of the comrades live up
round here now.

[FRANKEL _and_ MRS. SIMPSON _are heard disputing as they
approach: "Well, what you goin' to do about it!" "I'll show you
what we're goin' to do about it!" "You can't do nothing!" "You
wait till to-morrow and see." "I got my rights, ain't I?" and
so on._]

SIMPSON [_heard remonstrating_]: Now, Mamie, Mamie! Frankel, you
oughtn't to talk to Mamie that way.

[GIBSON, _interested and amused, goes part way up to the
hedge._ NORA _is somewhat mortified as the disputants reach the
gate._ GIBSON _speaks to them._]

GIBSON: How do you do, Simpson! How do you do, Mrs. Simpson! How do you
do, Frankel! Won't you come in and argue here?

MRS. SIMPSON: Wha'd you say, Mr. Gibson?

GIBSON: I said come in; come in!

SIMPSON [_uncertainly_]: Well, I don't know.

GIBSON: Come in! Nobody here but friends of yours. Sit down. I'd like to
hear what the argument was about.

[MRS. SIMPSON _is a large woman, domineering and noisy, dressed