hrown over her face._

JINNY. Not a soul! Come on!

[_She is followed in by the four BRIDESMAIDS--nice girls every one of
them--and also, very slyly, by SUSIE, a very modern spoiled child, who
sits unobserved out of the way at the back._

Now, my dears, I wish to say good-by all by ourselves so I can make you
a little speech! [_All laugh gently._] In the first place I want to tell
you that there's nothing like marriage! And you must every one of you
try it! Really, I was never so happy in my life!

GRACE. Must we stand, or may we sit down?

JINNY. Oh, stand; it won't be long and you'll only crush your lovely
frocks. In fact, I advise you not to lose any time sitting down again
until you've got the happy day fixed!

RUTH. You know, Jinny darling, that there is no one so glad for your
happiness as your four bridesmaids are--isn't that so, girls?

ALL. Yes!

[_And they all together embrace JINNY, saying, "Dear old Jinny,"
"Darling Jinny," "We'll miss you dreadfully," etc., ad lib., till
they get tearful._

JINNY. Good gracious, girls, we mustn't cry. I'll get red eyes, and
Jack'll think what an awful difference just the marriage service makes
in a woman.

[_The doors at the back open, and AUSTIN appears in the doorway._

[_AUSTIN is a typical New Yorker in appearance, thirty-two years
old, good-looking, manly, self-poised, and somewhat phlegmatic in
temperament._

AUSTIN. Hello! May a mere man come in to this delectable tea party?

JINNY. _No_, Jack! But _wait_--by the door till I call you!

AUSTIN. [_Amused._] Thank you!

[_He goes out, closing the door._

GERTRUDE. We'll miss you so awfully, Jinny.

JINNY. Just what I say! Get a man to keep you company, and then you
won't miss any one.

BELLE. Yes, but attractive men with lots of money don't come into the
Grand Central Station by every train!

JINNY. [_Putting her arm about her._] You want too much, my dear Belle!
And you aren't watching the Grand Central Station either half so much
as you are the steamer docks for a suitable person. Now don't be angry;
you know you want a good big title, and you've got the money to pay,
but, my dear Belle, it's those ideas of yours that have kept you single
till--twenty-six!--now _that_ you must confess was nice of me, to take
off _three_ years!

BELLE. [_Laughing._] Jinny, you're horrid!

JINNY. No, I'm not! You know I'm _really_ fond of you, or you wouldn't
be my bridesmaid to-day; it'