(Mrs. Lawty, Mrs. Pickering, and Mrs. Romney enter from the hall.)
Mrs. Warren. Oh, my dear ladies. Do ... do be seated.
(They all sit down quietly. There is a long pause. Mrs. Pickering moves restlessly.)
Mrs. Pickering. Mrs. Warren, we have adjourned our meeting of the "Helping Hand" until next week in order to come to you ... the poor, dear natives of the South Sea Islands will have to wait another week for their napkins and tablecloths.
Mrs. Romney. A very short time ... considering they have not had such necessary luxuries for several centuries.
Mrs. Lawty. Still, it was with some feeling of ... of regret that we left our work of altruism unfinished, until next week.
Mrs. Pickering. But we feel that our first duty is at home. Yes, we all felt that our duty was toward you, Mrs. Warren, at present.
Mrs. Warren. Ladies, I am overcome with your kindness.
Mrs. Pickering. We shall now consider ... consider ways and means of—of helping you, Mrs. Warren, out of this unspeakable—or, let us say, embarrassing situation.
Mrs. Lawty. Let us rather call it ... unfortunate situation.