Mrs. Ritter. Oh, don’t argue with him, Betty! He’s only trying to be smart.
Ritter. Why didn’t one of them say something?
Mrs. Pampinelli. What could they have said?
Ritter. Why, any commonplace! It’d have been better than just sitting there blinking. [Mrs. Ritter weeps.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. One can’t be commonplace in high comedy.
Ritter. Was that what it was?
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Bitterly] What did you think it was?
Ritter. [Turning and going up to the center-door] You tell her, Nelly; I haven’t got the heart.
Mrs. Fell. [Moving a little towards the right] You bold thing. [Nelly is wearing the gown she wore in the preceding act, and a heavy cloak of old-rose-colored velvet. She lays her hand on Mrs. Ritter’s left shoulder.] Don’t let him upset you this way, Paula. [There is a little pause. Ritter turns at the center-door and comes forward again at the left.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Picking up her fan from the piano] I suppose you would have eclipsed Edwin Booth, if you had been up there.