she knows what's happened her poor little
pretensions will come tumbling about her ears. I won't leave her in
uncertainty, and even before she asks I'll tell her she may stay with
us; but I shall tell her, too, what I expect from her in return.

GUERET. Wouldn't it be better--

MADAME GUERET. My dear, I shall go my own way. See what we're suffering
now in consequence of going _yours_. Here's Madame Nerisse. Then the
play is over. [_To her husband_] You must go and look after the people
at the supper table. I'll join you in a minute.

GUERET. All right.

_He goes out._

MADAME NERISSE. I've hardly ever been at such a successful party. I
wanted to congratulate dear Therese, but she's gone to change her dress.

MADAME GUERET [_absently_] So glad. Were you speaking of having a notice
of it in your paper?

MADAME NERISSE. Of your play! If I was going to notice it! I should
think so! The photographs we had taken at the dress rehearsal are being
developed. We shall have a wonderful description.

MADAME GUERET [_imploring_] Could it be stopped?

MADAME NERISSE. It's not possible! Just think how amazed the subscribers
to _Feminine Art_ would be if they found nothing in their paper about
your lovely performance of _Barberine_, even if the editress of the
paper hadn't taken a part in the play. If it only depended on me,
perhaps I could find some way out--explain it in some way, just to
please you. But then there's your charming Therese--one of our
contributors. I can't tell you what a wonderful success she's had with
her two stories, illustrated by herself. People adore her.

MADAME GUERET. Nobody would know anything about it--

MADAME NERISSE. Nobody know! There are at least ten people among your
guests who will send descriptions of this party to the biggest morning
papers, simply for the sake of getting their own names into print. If
_Feminine Art_ had nothing about it, it would be thought extremely odd,
I assure you. [_She turns to Feliat_] Wouldn't it, Monsieur?

FELIAT. Pardon me, Madame, I know nothing about these things.

MADAME GUERET. Well, we'll say no more about it.

MADAME NERISSE. But what's the matter? You must have some very good
reason for not wanting me to put in anything about your delightful
party.

MADAME GUERET. No----only----[_Hesitating_] Some of our family are
country people, you know. It would take me too long to explain it all to
you. It doesn't matter. [_With a change of tone_] Th