COAST. [Laughing.] What’s the use? he’ll lose everything just as quick in Wall Street.

GEORGIANA.  But I mean a good mine.

COAST. [Coming back to her.] Listen!  I worked right in our mine with my father when I was only eight years old!  That’s why I ain’t better educated—­I worked for ten years there down in the dirt and muck!

GEORGIANA. [Interrupting.] And silver!

COAST. [Leaning on the back of the chair.] Yes, and silver. [Laughs.] Father’s out there working yet—­don’t have to now, but he likes it; he ain’t comfortable on top of the earth—­says there’s too much room.  If father’d been a man like Mackay, I guess he’d been just as rich as him to-day.

GEORGIANA.  And still you won’t help Steve?

COAST. T’ain’t business. [He puts back his chair and leans toward GEORGIANA, hand on table.] If helping him, mind you, would get you, I might take it on. [Humorously.] I’d pay even the price of Steve to buy you.

GEORGIANA. [Taking the false nose and putting it on.] Well, I’m not for sale. [Rises.] But I would like to dispose of Steven.

COAST. Go on, please take that blame thing off.

[Follows GEORGIANA across the room to the Left.

GEORGIANA.  No, I like it!  You must understand this about my brother. [Taking off the nose.] He is the dearest, best fellow in the world! kind-hearted and wouldn’t do a thing that wasn’t straightforward in business.

COAST. But you’ve got to be tricky if you want to succeed in our business.  I don’t mind telling you right out between us, I’m tricky!

GEORGIANA.  I’m sorry to hear it.

COAST. Louise was a pretty good liar when she was a kid.  She ought to help her husband along a little.

GEORGIANA.  That’s just it! if Steve had the right sort of wife,—­but all Louise wants is social position and more money.

[She sits on the hobby horse, amusedly.]

COAST. If Louise was like you!

[GEORGIANA puts the nose on quickly and rocks.

GEORGIANA.  Heaven forbid!  The only trouble with Steve is he’s weak.  He’d have been all right if he’d been a girl—­or married to a president of Sorosis, or a daughter of the Present Revolution!

COAST. Miss Georgiana, take off that nose and let me ask you something.

GEORGIANA.  Not at all, my dear Sammy.  I know what it is you want to ask me!  I’m much obliged and I won’t.

COAST. You won’t marry me!

GEORGIANA.  No!

COAST. Why not?

GEORGIANA.  Because I don’t love you.

COAST. Who do you love?

GEORGIANA.  That’s not your business!

COAST. Do you love any one?

GEORGIANA. [After a moment’s hesitation, lies.] No!

COAST. [With insinuation.] Why don’t you get Dick Coleman to help
Steven?