etter pleased
still.

_Dolly._ After all, running into debt is a positive virtue beside the
things that some wives do!

_Harry._ Oh, it's a positive virtue, is it?

_Dolly._ A husband is very lucky when his wife spends most of her time
running up a few bills. It keeps her out of mischief. I'm sure you ought
to feel very glad that I'm a little extravagant!

_Harry._ Oh, I am! I am! I'm delighted!

[_He sits at table, takes out a pencil, hurriedly puts down the
amounts of the various bills--she creeps up behind him._

_Dolly._ What are you doing?

_Harry._ I'm totting up to see how lucky I am! Forty-one, one, six----
[_Groans._] Ninety-four---- [_Groans._

_Dolly._ [_Has crept up behind him, puts her arms round his neck._] Now,
Harry, will you take my advice----?

_Harry._ No.

_Dolly._ It's past eleven.

[_Trying to take the pencil out of his hand._

_Harry._ [_Disengaging her arms, speaking very sternly._] Will you have
the goodness to let me have all your bills, so that I may know what help
I shall need from my banker?

_Dolly._ Harry, you don't mean that? Oh, that's absurd with our income!

_Harry._ Will you have the goodness to do as I say, and at once, please?
[_He is dotting down figures. She stands still in the middle of the
room._] Did you hear me?

[_She bursts into tears. He turns round and shows symptoms of
relenting towards her, but steels himself and turns to the bills.
She bursts into renewed tears. He goes on figuring._

_Dolly._ [_Piteously._] Harry! Harry! [_Goes up to him and plucks his
sleeve._] Harry!

_Harry._ Well?

[_He turns and looks at her, is about to yield, but resists, turns
away from her, settles resolutely to his figures._

_Dolly._ And on the first night of the New Year, too! Just as we were
going to be so happy! Harry! [_Holds out her arms appealingly._] Harry!
[HARRY _suddenly turns round and clasps her._] How could you be so
unkind to me?

_Harry._ Was I? I didn't mean to be. Now! Dry your tears, and help me
reckon this up----

_Dolly._ Ye-es.

_Harry._ But first of all let me have the remainder of the bills----

_Dolly._ Yes.

_Harry._ At once, my darling--it's getting late.

_Dolly._ Yes. [_Goes up to desk._] You won't reproach me?

_Harry._ Of course I won't.

_Dolly._ I can bear anything except your reproaches. Promise you won't
reproach me.

_Harry._ I won't, unless----

_Dolly._ Unless what?

_