men's names?

THERESE. Yes. People still think more of men as writers. You see they
are names that might be either a man's or a woman's. Camille, Rene,
Gabriel.

MADEMOISELLE GREGOIRE. There's only one woman's name--Vicomtesse de
Renneville.

THERESE. That's snobbery! It's Madame Nerisse's pen-name.

MADEMOISELLE GREGOIRE. Well, I suppose it's good business.

_Mademoiselle de Meuriot comes in at the back, bringing a
packet of letters._

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. The post's come, Therese.

THERESE. This is Mademoiselle de Meuriot. [_Introducing Mademoiselle
Gregoire_] Our new contributor.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. You're welcome, Mademoiselle.

_The door on the left opens and Madame Nerisse appears
backwards, still talking to Monsieur Nerisse, who is
invisible in the inner room._

MADAME NERISSE. Yes, dearest. Yes, dearest. Yes, dearest.

_Mademoiselle Gregoire looks up at Madame Nerisse._

_Mademoiselle de Meuriot and Therese turn away their heads
to hide their smiles; finally Madame Nerisse shuts the door,
not having noticed anything, and comes forward. She speaks
to Mademoiselle Gregoire._

MADAME NERISSE. Come, my dear. I'll introduce you to the others. [_To
Mademoiselle de Meuriot_] Ah! the post has come. Open the letters,
Therese, will you?

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. Yes, we will.

MADAME NERISSE [_at the door on the right, to Mademoiselle Gregoire_]
You first. [_They go out_]

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_smiling_] I think our new friend was a bit
amused. She's pretty.

THERESE. Yes, and she looks capable.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. Let's get to work.

_She sits down, at a desk. Therese sits near her at the end
of the same desk. During all that follows Therese opens
envelopes with a letter opener and passes them to
Mademoiselle de Meuriot, who takes the letters out, glances
at them, and makes three or four little piles of them._

THERESE. Here! [_Holding out the first letter_]

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_as she works_] And you? How are you this
morning? [_Looking closely at her and shaking a finger_] You're tired,
little girl. You sat up working last night.

THERESE. I wanted to finish copying out my manuscript. It took me ages,
because I wanted to make it as clear as print.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_gravely_] You know you mustn't be ill,
Therese.

THERESE. How good you are, Mademoiselle, and how lucky I am to ha