MR. BECKER. The breaking-up of the American home, may it long be averted.
(All go out. Curtain.)
ACT II
Scene I
The scene is the same as in Act I. The room is empty when MILDRED enters with EDWARD MELVIN. She is dressed in a short white serge dress with green sash and purple band over the left shoulder, draped like the garter ribbon. Melvin carries a large white banner on which is painted in green and purple letters, “Daughters of the Danaïdes.”
MILDRED. (Half hysterical.) You have been so kind to me, I shall never forget it. I do not know what I should have done without your help. I thought I was going to faint right there in the street, and the crowd was jeering so. Then you suddenly appeared like a Lohengrin and seized the standard and assisted me down the side street. I could never have reached home if you had not hailed the taxicab and brought me back. I should have been afraid to take a street taxicab myself. One hears such awful stories about kidnapping.
MR. MELVIN. Yet you were not afraid to go with me—a perfect stranger!
MILDRED. I knew the Club on the corner out of which you ran, what nice men belong to it. Those in the window were all joking you when you left them, but you didn’t care. You came and helped me in spite of everything. When you were beside me and I could see your eyes, I felt sure you were to be trusted. I didn’t think anything more about it.
MR. MELVIN. (Slightly embarrassed.) How heavy this banner is. They should not have given it to a child like you to carry. It would be a weighty burden for a man.