e quick, and say nothing to any one.

LEONARD. Yes, sir.

[_He goes out quickly Right._ STERLING _goes up stage and stands beside
the door at back as the women dance in, singing "Follow the Man from
Cook's." They are led by_ CLARA, _with_ MRS. HUNTER _on the end._
BLANCHE _and_ RUTH _follow alone, not dancing. The others dance around
the chairs and_ CLARA _jumps on and off one of them; this stops the
rest, who balk at it._ STERLING _goes out at back. The_ SERVANTS _enter
Right._

CLARA. I don't care for this dinner party at all. The women are all the
time being chased away from the men! I prefer being with Mr. Trotter.
Don't you, mama?

MISS SILLERTON. He doesn't seem able to give a dinner party any more
without you to chaperone, Mrs. Hunter.

BLANCHE. Mother, how can you?

MRS. HUNTER. Oh, I don't know as it's _chaperoning_! I like Mr. Trotter
very much.

MISS SILLERTON. But he's such a little cad. I tried to give him a lift,
but he was too heavy for me.

CLARA. Oh, well, you ought just to pretend it's the money in his pocket
makes him so heavy; then you'd find him dead easy.

[_Meanwhile the_ SERVANTS _have arranged the table, taken out the extra
leaves and made it square, and left the room. They now reenter, bringing
in a gorgeously decorated and lighted Christmas tree. There is at once a
loud chorus of delighted approval from the women. The_ SERVANTS _place
the tree in the centre of the table. The women who are sitting rise and
come near to examine the tree._

RUTH. What a beautiful tree, Blanche!

BLANCHE. The boy is to have it to-morrow morning--it's really _his_
tree! [TOMPSON _brings in a large basket containing seven small
stockings and six small boys' socks--very small stockings and very small
socks. They are made of bright and different colors and are stuffed into
absurd, bulgy shapes._] There's a name on each one. Come along now!

[_Taking out a little sock. The women crowd around the basket and each
hangs a sock on the tree,_ MISS GODESBY _and_ CLARA _standing on
chairs._

CLARA. [_Reading the name on her sock._] Oh! mine's for Mr. Mason.
What's in it, Blanche?

BLANCHE. I really can't tell you. I asked the clerk where I bought it
what it was for, and he said he didn't know; it was a "Christmas
present."

MISS GODESBY. [_Laughing._] Oh, I know the kind! Mine's for Howard
Godesby. What's his present?

BLANCHE. A silver golf marker.

MISS GODESBY. But he doesn't play golf!

BLANCHE.