[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.
Blanche. I don't want to wait. I want to decide now and to cut my life free, entirely, from Dick's.
Ruth. You used to agree with me. I've heard you decry these snapshot, rapid-transit, tunnel divorces many a time. I've heard you say when a woman has made her bed, she must lie in it—make the best of her bad bargain.
Blanche. I always sympathized with a woman who sought a divorce in this state.
Ruth. Oh, yes, but you can't, can you?