Mrs. Fell. [Positively] Paula,—if he were my husband, I should lose no time in having him arrested. [She goes out, at the left door.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Standing back of Mrs. Ritter’s chair] Paula dear, I do hope that you are not going to allow Mr. Ritter’s flippancies to discourage you. [Paula clasps her hands in her lap and looks tearfully at the backs of them.] The way of the essential artist is always hard; and so very frequently the most serious obstacles are those to be encountered at home.
Mrs. Ritter. But, I feel so unsuccessful.
Mrs. Pampinelli. I know, dear—I know exactly how you feel. But you must go on. Just remember that art is the highest expression of truth,—and you cannot fail. For you have everything in your favor, Paula.
Mrs. Ritter. [Weakly] Thank you.
Mrs. Pampinelli. And the masses need you, dear; you are an altogether new note in the theatre.
Mrs. Ritter. But—I don’t know whether Fred’ll want me to go on any more—[Mrs. Pampinelli suddenly becomes very still and stoney, and looks down at Mrs. Ritter with merciless inquiry. Mrs. Ritter senses the change and turns hastily to explain.] the way he spoke.
Mrs. Pampinelli. And, do you mean that you will allow him to stop you, Paula?
Mrs. Ritter. [Breaking down under Mrs. Pampinelli’s frozen amusement] Well, of course, he’s my husband, Betty. [She cries. Mrs. Pampinelli regards her with a kind of pained toleration; and settles her cloak, preparatory to going.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. Very well, then, Paula—if you feel that way about it, I should advise you to keep him; and I shan’t waste any more of my time encouraging you. [She sweeps around to her left and up towards the center-door.] There are far too many who are only too willing to make the necessary sacrifices without being urged. [She picks up her fan and roses from the partition-seat, lays them across her left arm, and turns regnantly to Mrs. Ritter.] Only remember this, Paula,—there will be actresses when husbands are a thing of the past. [She sweeps out through the center-door and out into the right hallway. There is a slight pause; then Nelly Fell comes in at the left door. She misses Mrs. Pampinelli.]