MILDRED. I am not a child! It is this short skirt that makes me look like one. I am over eighteen years old. The members of the Society chose me as standard bearer because it is a great honor. They said that I had done so much for the cause both in contributions and personal service that it was my right to carry the banner.
MR. MELVIN. So you contribute to the Campaign Funds. Well, that is an important thing to do, the most important perhaps.
MILDRED. Oh, I didn’t mean to give the impression that I have given so much. I really only give what I ought, because you see most of the members are factory girls and typewriters, self-supporting women who have all they can do to pay their monthly dues of ten cents.
MR. MELVIN. (Reading from the banner.) “Daughters of the Danaïdes.” So that is the name of your society, is it?
MILDRED. Yes. Mrs. Dunstan chose it. She is so clever and has read everything. She says it is an alliteration worthy of Henry James.
MR. MELVIN. Do you know what the Danaïdes did?
MILDRED. (Solemnly.) They murdered their husbands.
MR. MELVIN. Is that the purpose of your Society? Have you all vowed to murder your husbands?
MILDRED. I don’t think we shall any of us ever marry.