RUTH.  I’m glad you’re spared this. [With a long-drawn breath she places the photograph back upon the table and turns to greet BLANCHE, who comes in Right.] Good morning, my dear.

[She kisses her.

BLANCHE.  Good morning.  You’ve had my note? [RUTH nods.] Thank you.  I wanted to see you before I saw any one else.  You must help me decide, only you can.

RUTH.  Have you seen your husband this morning?

BLANCHE.  No.  He sent word he was feeling ill, but would like to see me when I was willing.

RUTH.  And you?

[They sit near each other.

BLANCHE.  I don’t want to talk with him till I see more clearly what I am going to do.

RUTH.  Mr. Warden told me last night all that happened at “The
Hermitage.”  But on your ride home with Dick?

BLANCHE.  We never spoke. [She rises.] Aunt Ruth, I am going to leave him.

RUTH. [Rising.] No!

BLANCHE. [Walking up and down.] Why not? Everybody does.

RUTH. [Going to her.] That’s just it. Be somebody! Don’t do the easy, weak thing.  Be strong; be an example to other women.  Heaven knows it’s time they had one!

[MRS. HUNTER enters Right. BLANCHE meets her.

MRS. HUNTER.  Good morning, my poor dear.

[Going to kiss BLANCHE.

BLANCHE. [Taking MRS. HUNTER’S hand and not kissing her.] Good morning.

MRS. HUNTER.  Clara’s gone upstairs to see little Richard.  Good morning,
Ruth.

[She adds this with a manner of being on the defensive.

RUTH. [Dryly.] Good morning.

MRS. HUNTER. [Sitting by the table and looking at the picture papers.]
Isn’t it awful!  What are you going to do?

BLANCHE.  I don’t know yet, mother.

MRS. HUNTER. Don’t know? Absolute divorce—­no legal separation! [To
RUTH.] We’re staying at the Waldorf.

[BLANCHE sits discouragedly on the sofa.

RUTH. [Sitting beside her.] I shall advise against, and do everything in my power to prevent, Blanche’s getting a divorce!

MRS. HUNTER.  You don’t mean to say you’ll carry those ridiculous notions of yours into practice?—­now that a scandal has come into our very family?

RUTH.  Oh, I know selfish, cynical, and worldly people won’t agree with me, and I pity and sympathize with Blanche from the bottom of my heart. [Taking and holding BLANCHE’S hand.] But I want her not to decide anything now; wait till the first blows over, and then—­well, then I feel sure she will do the strong, noble thing—­the difficult thing—­not the easy.

BLANCHE. [Withdraws her hand from RUTH’S.] No, you ask too much of me, Aunt Ruth; I can’t do it.

RUTH.  I say don’t decide now—­wait.