back in her chair). Is she of foreign extraction?

_Jack_ No, foreign distraction.

_Maude_ (falling into a chair and opening letter). From Valeria. She
can't come over this afternoon. She's got to, to--I can't make it out.
(spells slowly). B-a-an, B-a-n--

_Jack_ Banana, maybe. She's got to banana. Let me see it, I'm used to
her hand.

_Maude_ Indeed! (elaborately). Indeed, you are! Maybee this is your
note?

_Jack_ You needn't get so mad. Let her banana. I don't care!

_Maude_ (springing up). Neither do I! Take the note!

(Katherine appears at the door.)

_Katherine_ (in much trepidation). Perfesser Grindem.

_Jack_ (pleasantly). All right Katherine, we are perpared!

(Enter Professor Grindem.)

_Grindem_ (bows profoundly, repeatedly). Ah, good morning, ladies, good
morning! Mr. Hamilton, ah, good morning! How is the work progressing?

(Jack shakes hands. Miss Rantum bows distantly.)

_Maude_ (tearing note into tiny bits). I shall be scared to death.

_Grindem_ (cordially). Not at all, Miss Maude, ah, not at all! Not at
all! You will feel power,--power is ahem!--power is a great thing--a
great thing.

_Maude_ (dejectedly). Yes, Professor.

(Enter Mrs. De Smythe)

_Grindem_ May I hear the--ah, Mrs. De Smythe, good morning!

(Mrs. De Smythe adjusts herself on couch.)

_Mrs. De S._ Yes, Maudie, dear, read it all to us. O Matilda, Matilda,
my salts! Now, Maudie!

(Miss Hoppenhoer bustles in and takes her station behind couch.)

_Maude_ (painfully taking "position"). "Life's Inner Meanings."

_Mrs. De S._ A very pretty subject, I think.

_Miss H._ (sniffs). A very pretty broad one, I think!

_Maude_ (impressively). "Life's Inner Meanings."

_Miss R._ Stand straighter, Miss Maude--so.

_Jack_ I think that's awkward,--looks as if she were going to cry "Lay
on, Macduff!"

_Maude_ Why, Jack Hamilton!

_Mrs. De S._ Jack's only joking. Why don't you go on?

_Maude_ "Life's Inner Meanings," (then, very rapidly). "As a traveler
among the mighty mountains, fails to realize the height to which he
has climbed, so we, in Life's dusty pathway, cannot estimate the
distance we have traveled. Among life's bright flowers, its rugged
slopes, its pleasant walleys--valleys, its dangerous pitfalls, we
cannot realize the magnitood--tude--magnitude of the common things
about us." (Stops, breathless.)

_Miss R._ Don't sway so. Hold the body firm.

_Mrs. De S._ There's no hurry, child.

_Jack_ That pace wo