do you do, Peter? [_They shake hands._] I'm sorry to hear you
are seedy, but you eat too many sweet things.

PETER. I'm not eating candy; it's soda mints! [_Showing a small
bottle._] I _am_ bad to-day, mother.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. If you don't get better, we'll go to Carlsbad.

JINNY. How do you like Rome, Peter?

PETER. Oh, I don't know--too much Boston and not enough Chicago to make
it a real lively town.

JINNY. [_Laughing._] I think I'll go look for Jack and tell him you've
turned up.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Perhaps he's found Ruth.

JINNY. [_With a change in her voice._] Yes, perhaps.

[_She goes out Right._

PETER. [_Going to the doorway Right, calls after her._] Ruth's in a room
on your left, with rows of men's heads on shelves, Emperors and
things,--but gee, such a _job lot_!

[_Comes back and looks up at the statue._

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Isn't it beautiful, Peter?

PETER. No, it's _too big_!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Still this one isn't broken!

PETER. That's a comfort! Yes, it has been mended, too! [_Examining._]
Oh, yes, it's only another of these second-hand statues. Say, you missed
one whole one, the best I've seen yet! A Venus off in a fine little
room, all mosaics and painted walls,--that's where I've been.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Why, Peter Cullingham! _Alone?_ What kind of a Venus?

PETER. Oh, beautiful! I forgot to take my medicine!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Was she--er--_dressed_, darling?

PETER. We--you know--she _had_ been, but she'd sort of pushed it a good
way off!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_With a sigh._] You know we _ought_ to admire these
things, Peter darling; that's partly what we've come to Europe for!

PETER. O pshaw! here comes a gang of tourists. Come on, let's skip!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. But Ruth and Mrs. Austin?

PETER. We didn't agree to wait, and we can all meet at our hotel.

[_A crowd of TOURISTS, led by a GUIDE, presses and crowds in the
doorway. They drag their tired feet in a listless shuffle across the
room and stand in a somewhat sheepish and stupid bunch at the statue.
One or two of the younger women nudge each other and giggle. The GUIDE
stands a little in advance of them. The GUIDE describes the statue,
and while he is doing so PETER and MRS. CULLINGHAM go out Right. Most
of the TOURISTS turn and watch them go instead of looking at the
statue._

GUIDE. This is the Apollo Belvedere, discovered at the end of the
fifteenth century, some say in a Roman villa or farm-house