THAT AWFUL LETTER
SCENE I
(Sitting-room in Neilson’s house, well furnished. Margaret overdressed, is sitting reading a magazine. She looks up impatiently and throws it down in disgust.)
Margaret—(crossly.) There’s no use in my trying to read or do anything else when I’m so provoked. I don’t see why dad can’t (the bell rings) Oh, drat that bell! I don’t want to see any person. I wish people would stay at home. (Goes and looks out.) Oh! it’s Helen! I wonder what she wants now. She is always running over and I’m sure I’m never over there any more than four times a day at the most. (Helen comes in and Margaret rushes to embrace her.) Oh Helen, you dear girl! I’m so glad to see you. I was just wishing you would come over. Do take off your hat and stay awhile. I’ve just been so mad I could boil over or bite somebody or do something awful.
Helen—Why, what is the matter with you? What are you mad about? (Aside, It seems to me she is always in hot water or a stew about something.)
Margaret—Well, sit down and I’ll tell you about it. (They sit down on a couch.) It seems that dad has some country relations somewhere in the backwoods. He’s had them ever since he was born but he’s just remembering them now. Well, it seems that there’s a girl about my age and dad was looking over some old photos last night and came across one of her when she was six years old. That picture put him into the notion that he would like to see that girl and nothing will do but I must write and ask her up.
Helen—That won’t hurt you, will it? I think it would be nice to have a girl visiting you. I know when Marian Staddon was visiting me, we had a dandy time—parties, dances, and heaps of things.
Margaret—Yes, but can’t you get anything into your head? This is a cousin from the backwoods and just imagine the kind of figure she’d cut in our set! Why, she’ll likely have the oddest clothes and speak most horrible English and, and—not know beans. And then that would spoil all our plans for getting in with Edith Browning. The Brownings, you know, are such an aristocratic family and are the whole cheese since they moved to the city. I’m just crazy to get in with them, but of course if they saw me with that girl, that would spoil everything. Edith would know that my father had sprung from common ordinary farmers and we have just succeeded in making people think we had very important ancestors.
Helen—(aside) Gee! but isn’t she some snob. Well, nobody is deceived I can vouch for that. (aloud.) I know Edith Browning is the whole thing just at present. I’ve met her several times and think she is lovely, (pause) not a bit stuck up, you know. Of course we want to get in with her, especially this winter when Beth Norton is going to visit her, for everybody will be having parties and things for her.