too. [She puts it back in the case.  She takes up a sealed envelope, blank.] Nothing on it, and sealed. [She looks at it a moment, thinking.] Father, did you want this opened?  If you didn’t, why not have destroyed it?  Ah!  I needn’t be afraid; you had nothing to hide from the world. [Tearing it open, she reads.] “I have discovered my son-in-law, Richard Sterling, in irregular business dealing.  He is not honest.  I will watch him as long as I live; but when you read this, Mason, keep your eye upon him for my daughter’s sake.  He has been warned by me—­he may never trip again, and her happiness lies in ignorance.” [She starts, and looks about her to make sure she is alone.  She then sits staring ahead for a few seconds; then she speaks.] My boy’s father dishonest!  Disgrace—­he owned it—­threatening my boy!  It mustn’t come!  It mustn’t! I’ll watch now. [She goes to the fireplace, tearing the paper as she crosses the room, she burns the letter; then she gathers up the other letters and the pocket case.] He must give me his word of honor over Richard’s little bed to-night that he will do nothing to ever make the boy ashamed of bearing his father’s name!

[She watches to see that every piece of the paper burns, as

THE CURTAIN FALLS

ACT II

Christmas Eve; fourteen months later; the dining room of the Hunters’ house, which is now lived in jointly by the STERLINGS and MRS. HUNTER and her daughters.  It is a dark wainscoted room, with curtains of crimson brocade.  It is decorated with laurel roping, mistletoe, and holly, for Christmas.  It is the end of a successful dinner party, fourteen happy and more or less congenial persons being seated at a table, as follows: WARDEN, RUTH, MASON, CLARA, TROTTER, MRS. HUNTER, BLANCHE, STERLING, MISS SILLERTON, MR. GODESBY, JESSICA, DOCTOR STEINHART, and MISS GODESBY. The room is dark on all sides, only a subdued light being shed on the table by two large, full candelabra with red shaded candles.  As the curtain rises the bare backs of the three women nearest the footlights gleam out white.  Candied fruit and other sweetmeats are being passed by four men servants, including JORDAN and LEONARD.

RUTH.  My dear Blanche, what delicious candy!

MISS SILLERTON.  Isn’t it!

MISS GODESBY.  Half of the candy offered one nowadays seems made of papier-mache.

MRS. HUNTER. [To MISS GODESBY.] Julia, do tell me how Mr. Tomlins takes his wife’s divorce?

MISS GODESBY.  He takes it with a grain of salt!

MRS. HUNTER.  But isn’t he going to bring a counter suit?

STERLING.  No.

RUTH.  I hope not.  I am an old-fashioned woman and don’t believe in divorce!

MISS GODESBY.  Really!  But then you’re not married!

MISS SILLERTON.  What is the reason for so much divorce nowadays?