Jennie, you'd better go to bed.

_Mrs. De S._ (sadly). I will. I hope I shall not have an attack.

_Miss H._ Attack! We'll all have an attack before Friday night! (She
busies herself about the couch. Valeria and Maude go out.)

_Miss H._ Now, can you walk, do you think? I'd better call Katherine,
hadn't I? Katherine! Be careful of that bag--it's hot--awful hot! Lean
on me--(they go out, but Miss Hoppenhoer runs back to pick up things).

_Jack_ Can't I help you! A fellow never knows what to do
when--when--anybody has an attack.

(Maude returns.)

_Jack_ Come on, Maude, I've got an old tandem out there. Let's take a
spin.

_Miss H._ (dropping a shawl and two bottles). Got a what?

_Jack_ Go get ready, Maude. A tandem.

(Maude goes.)

_Miss H._ (moveless with astonishment). You ride it?

_Jack_ (respectfully). Yes, ma'am.

_Miss H._ (aghast). Ride it?

_Jack_ (fascinated). Yessum. (earnestly). Yes, ma'am.

_Miss H._ Ride a tantrum! Well, such goings on! And all of it comes from
graduating! Thank Heaven, I never graduated!

(Commences to pick up things. Curtain.)

ACT II.

(Sitting-room of the De Smythe home. Bouquets with cards attached.
Maude's desk, open, in confusion. Her hat and gloves on a chair. Jack,
Miss Rantum and Maude, latter "practicing.")

_Miss R._ (decidedly). It is best to hold it in one hand.

_Jack_ (surprised beyond measure). Oh, are you going to read it?

_Maude_ (standing in the middle of the room). W-e-l-l, not exactly read
it, you know.

_Maude_ I really know it--almost.

_Jack_ Then don't hold the paper.

_Maude_ (apprehensively). Oh, but if I should forget!

_Jack_ (confidently). You won't!

_Maude_ I might! Oh, it's very easy for you to say orate, for you can!

_Jack_ (conscious of ability). Yes, but you could, too.

_Miss R._ What is the subject of your oration, Mr. Hamilton?

_Jack_ (modestly). "Universality in Statecraft."

_Maude_ And it's a dandy! You ought to hear him when he comes to, "For
of all the nations, builded of power and sealed with blood--" (in
tremendous tones).

_Jack_ Oh, now, Maude, I say, let up.

_Maude_ Well, honest, you are fine. No I should die if I forgot,--just
simply die.

_Miss R._ It is wiser for her to hold her manuscript, I think. This is
an essay, not an oration.

_Maude_ (sitting down and getting up, a la Delsarte). Of course, Jack,
don't you see? It is an essay, not an oration. Now, did I get up
right?

_Mis