es_ FANSHAW _out of the way. Crossing to_ GERTRUDE.] Will you
give me the pleasure? [DOUGLAS _out at back, exits._] Thank you.
[_Offers his arm, which_ GERTRUDE _takes, and they go out at back._

FANSHAW. Well!

MARION. Are you going to stand perfectly still and be robbed in that
manner? [_Laughing._

FANSHAW. Well, but what am I-- [_Interrupted by one of the girl
guests, who says_, "I'm here!"] Oh, so you are. [_Puts his arm in
hers, and they run off together._

ETHEL. Marion, isn't Mr. Ned Fletcher coming to-night?

MARION. Yes. [_Exit._

KITTY. I'm so glad; he's quite the most amusing man in town this
winter. [_Sitting on chair which servant left._

ETHEL. And so many people won't ask him to their houses, you know.
Mamma won't.

KITTY. Well, you know, your mother's a ridiculous person; she asks
lots of awfully fast men!

ETHEL. Yes, but they are all relatives.

KITTY. [_Putting arm around_ ETHEL, _pricks her finger._] I don't
believe Net Fletcher is as bad as people hint. He's too good looking.
[_Fixing dress._

ETHEL. And I don't care whether he's bad or not, he's charming enough
to make up for it. Besides, I suppose all men are bad.

KITTY. Oh--I don't know.

ETHEL. I mean all nice men.

KITTY. Where has Mr. Fletcher been before this winter?

ETHEL. My dear, he's one of those men who live all over the
place--most of the time in Europe--but he's been here always off and
on--and in Newport and in Lenox he has yachts and things, don't you
know! [_Exits down right._

MARION. [_Enters._] Girls, will you go into the ball-room, till the
men get the tables ready here? [_She speaks aside to one of the
servants, and exits. Servants bring on small table and place it with
bottles, lunch, etc., a broken glass covered with napkins to fall on
stage. Place seven chairs about table. Exit._

ETHEL. _Of course._ [_To_ KITTY, _crossing to her._] Do you notice how
she won't talk about Fletcher and won't listen to any one else either?

KITTY. My dear, she's heels over head.

ETHEL. Poor Douglas Rhodes! [_Half smiling, in part satire._

KITTY. Serves him right for hanging around her all his life! Why
didn't he flirt with one of us girls for a time, if only to make her
jealous! [ETHEL _sees_ DOUGLAS _enter, and tries to warn_ KITTY. ETHEL
_gives_ KITTY _a violent pull of the arm to warn her to stop speaking
of_ DOUGLAS.

ETHEL. [_To_ DOUGLAS.] You can't stay here; we're driven out.

KITTY. Come, help us make