Mrs. Pampinelli. [Into telephone] Well, just one moment. [Covering the transmitter and speaking to Mrs. Fell] Twelve-fifty is offered.
Mrs. Fell. [Definitely] Fifteen hundred dollars. They’ll lift it.
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Turning back to the telephone] Why, I’m very sorry,—but Mrs. Ritter positively does not appear under fifteen hundred dollars. [Nelly inclines her head towards her.] Net. Well, how do you mean satisfactory? Satisfactory at our figure? [Mrs. Pampinelli glances at Mrs. Fell and Mrs. Fell glances at Mrs. Ritter.]
Mrs. Fell. [To Mrs. Pampinelli] Sign!
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Into the telephone] Very well, then,—signed at fifteen hundred dollars per week,—
Mrs. Fell. Net!
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Into the telephone] Net! And Mrs. Ritter appears. [She stands holding the telephone and listening.]
Mrs. Fell. [Whirling round and teetering down to Paula] Our STAR! I always said it! [She shakes Mrs. Ritter by the shoulders.] I always said it! [She whirls round and teeters up towards the center-door.] Haven’t I always said it, Betty? [Mrs. Pampinelli is listening on the telephone, and tries, by dint of thrusting the telephone towards Nelly, to silence her. But Nelly is irrepressible.] That it was only a question of time? [She turns and flies down towards Mrs. Ritter again.] We must telephone Mrs. Livingston at once, Paula!
Mrs. Pampinelli. Be quiet, Nelly, be quiet!
Mrs. Fell. [Rushing up towards the center-door again] She’ll be so interested! We must call up Mrs. Livingston right away, Betty!