Mrs. Pampinelli. Please, Nelly! [Nelly is silenced. Mrs. Pampinelli listens sharply, Nelly and Mrs. Ritter watching her; and there is a dead pause.] Beg pardon? [There is another slight pause; and then Mrs. Pampinelli utters an abrupt shriek and sets down the telephone.]
Mrs. Fell. What is it, Betty? [Mrs. Pampinelli looks at her, then straight ahead.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [With venomous enunciation] It’s Ritter! [Mrs. Ritter rises slowly.]
Mrs. Fell. Ritter? [Mrs. Pampinelli doesn’t stir.]
Mrs. Ritter. [Addressing Mrs. Pampinelli] Fred?
Mrs. Pampinelli. I recognized his voice. [She moves along the left hallway and comes in through the center-door and forward, a little to the left of the center of the room.]
Mrs. Fell. [Up just to the right of the center-door] Why, where is he?
Mrs. Ritter. [Beginning to cry] He must be on the extension upstairs. [Nelly listens keenly.]
Mrs. Fell. It is he; I hear him laughing. [She crosses down to the door at the left.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Taking a step towards Mrs. Ritter] Sit down, Paula. [Mrs. Ritter sits down, rests her elbows on the table and weeps bitterly. Nelly stops over at the door and turns.]