_Peggy._ You"ll truly not go off the steps?
_Bill._ Word of honor, Peggy!
_Peggy._ All right, then.
_Bill._ Hooray! Now, I"ll get the roses in my cheeks! _(exit at door Left; Peggy closes window and sound of singing stops)._
_Peggy._ It"s a crime that child isn"t in the country!
_Will (drawing her to table)._ What do you think of my fourth act?
_Peggy._ Why dear, it"s just as I said about Act One, you need more life in the scene, more variety and color.
_Will._ But how can it be got?
_Peggy._ I told you before--you must bring in Gladys.
_Will._ Gladys at this stage of the play?
_Peggy._ Of course! You"re bringing home Belle, and you want a character contrast--the daughter of the tenements and the princess of the plutocracy. Gladys is still in love with Jack, and here he"s coming home with another girl!
_Will._ Oh, Peggy, that"s so cheap!
_Peggy._ Wait, Will--let me work it out for you. I can show you what I mean. Let me have your pencil.
_Will (groans)._ Go on!
_Peggy._ See now--it"s the same scene--_(begins to write, Will reading over her shoulder. Play-play begins to appear)._ Only Gladys is pouring tea--
_Will._ Isn"t that just like her! Always pouring tea!
_Peggy._ Shut up! There"s Jessie and Bob. Gladys has her very finest society manner--she wouldn"t for the world let anyone think that she was excited by the telephone-message. _(full light on Play-play)_
_Gladys._ Well, Jessie, I have had a most enjoyable evening. But I must be going now.
_Jessie._ What? When Jack is coming?
_Gladys._ Oh, would Jack want to see me? Surely not! No, I must really go. _(rises and starts to door)._ Good-bye!
_Will._ You"re not going to have her go off?
_Peggy._ Wait! Let me write!
_Jessie (rises, runs and stops Gladys)._ No, dear! Please wait!
_Gladys._ What for?
_Jessie._ Do a favor for me, Gladys. I know Jack still loves you. I want you to stay here! I want you to hear it from his own lips. Let me hide you behind this screen _(starts towards screen with her)._ When Jack comes in, I"ll speak about you--
_Will (vehemently)._ That won"t do! _(Gladys and Jessie stop.)_
_Peggy._ Why not?
_Will._ It"s rotten!
_Peggy._ But I want her to do it! _(Gladys and Jessie start towards screen again.)_
_Will._ I won"t have it I say! It"s undignified!
_Peggy._ Oh, don"t be silly, Will!
_Will._ I say I won"t have it! Let Gladys go on pouring tea!
_(Gladys starts towards tea table.)_
_Peggy._ Let them hide, I say! _(Gladys starts to screen.)_
_Will._ Stop, I say! _(Gladys stops, stands dazed and helpless.)_
_Peggy._ Why can"t you give me a chance to write?
_Will._ I can"t stand it, I tell you!
_Peggy._ But I want to show you how it would go.
_Will._ I don"t want to see it! I won"t read such things!
_Peggy._ But if I"m to have Gladys at all--
_Will._ You can"t have her! She"s got no business in my play! _(He leaps up in fury.)_ To h.e.l.l with her, I say--to h.e.l.l with her!
_(Gladys turns and flees off with a scream; the Play-play fades.)_
_Peggy._ Will, dear, _why_ must you be so unreasonable?
_Will._ Now see, do you want to read what I"ve written, or don"t you?
_Peggy._ Yes, dear, of course.
_Will._ Well then, drop this tomfoolery and go on!
_Peggy (resignedly)._ All right, I"ll do it.
_Will._ We"ve got that scene to finish. I"ve got a climax that isn"t bad, I think. Jessie and Bob have just had the telephone-message.
_(Light begins to rise on the Play-play.)_ Jessie"s dancing with happiness, but suddenly the thought comes to her, What will Dad say?
_(Full light on Play-play; Peggy and Will make secret exit.)_
_Jessie (in distress)._ Bob, do you suppose Dad will take Jack"s money from him?
_Bob._ I don"t know. It"ll all depend.