GEORGIANA. [Taking off the nose.] Why do you ask me that now in that way?

COAST. Information!

GEORGIANA.  Dick’s a lawyer.  What could he do for Steven?

COAST. That’s not the information I wanted.

GEORGIANA.  But it’s all the information you’ll get!

[Gets off the hobby horse and comes down a little.

COAST. [Follows her.] Georgiana, marry me, and I’ll look after Steven all the rest of his life.

GEORGIANA.  Sammy, you don’t want me to marry you if I don’t love you.

COAST. Yes, I do.  Listen!  I’d risk your not loving me; there’s nothing on God’s earth I wouldn’t do to make you love me.

GEORGIANA.  That’s the trouble with you men, you think you can make a woman love you whether she wants to or not, but you can’t!—­neither can you keep her from loving you if she does, whether she wants to or not.

[Throws nose away; crossing to the Left, sits in the rocking chair there.

COAST. I’d give you everything!

GEORGIANA.  That you can buy!

COAST. Do you mean that you’d rather be dead poor than marry me?

GEORGIANA.  No, I don’t say that!  When I’ve lost everything and Steven and Louise are bankrupt, and we haven’t a penny—­

COAST. Yes!

GEORGIANA.  I might—­I say I might—­

COAST. Honest!

GEORGIANA. [Laughing.] Oh, dear, no!

COAST. I take you at your word, anyhow.

[The children’s voices are heard.

CHILDREN. [Off Left.] Come on back to our room and have some more fun.

GEORGIANA.  Sh!  Here come the children.

[Rises.

COAST. Damn the children!

GEORGIANA.  Sam!

[She puts finger up, COAST kisses it.

COAST. Pardon!  But I don’t give up!  Understand—­I’m going to marry you!

GEORGIANA. [Teasing him.] When?  When?

[The children rush in screaming.

THE CHILDREN.  Aunt Georgiana!  Here’s papa!  Here’s papa!

[And STEVEN CARLEY enters Left.  He is a slender, smooth-shaven, young-old looking man, his voice and body almost vibrating with nerve; a personality that so often appeals to the tenderness in women, while it irritates men.  He brings his hat and coat with him.

STEVEN.  Hello, Sam!

COAST. Morning!

STEVEN.  Many happy returns, Georgy.

GEORGIANA.  Oh, no, thank you!  It’s not for me yet, thank goodness!

PHILIP.  Now let’s play hide and seek.

THE CHILDREN.  Hide and seek!

LIZZIE. [Entering Left.] Excuse me, please.  Mrs. Jackson’s maid is here for Miss Elaine.

PHILIP.  Oh, pshaw!

CHRISTOPHER.  Don’t you go!

ELAINE.  Oh, yes, I must!  I’m sorry! [She goes up stage with great diffidence to STEVEN and shakes his hand as she curtseys.] Good-by, sir. [To COAST also.] Good-by, sir. [To GEORGIANA.] Good-by, ma’am, I’ve had a perfectly lovely time. [Aside to GEORGIANA.] Phil is my beau, but I like Mr. Coast awfully much too!