Mrs. R. [Turning and trailing up towards the center-door after him] It’s really very interesting.
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Out at the front door] You see how considerate I am of you, Jenny, letting myself in? [Mr. and Mrs. Ritter stop in the center-door and look toward the front door.]
Jenny. [At the front door] Oh, that’s all right, Mrs. Pampinelli.
Mrs. R. [Turning quickly to Ritter at her left] You can’t go up now, Fred, she’ll see you.
Mrs. Pampinelli and Ritter, together.
Mrs. P. Well, I daresay you’ll have to open this door quite often enough tonight without my troubling you.
Ritter. [Coming back into the room with a slight gesture of annoyance] I don’t want to have to listen to her gab. [He goes over to the mantelpiece at the left and takes up his position there, while Mrs. Ritter, with a movement to him to be silent, drifts down beside the piano at the right.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Coming into view from the right hallway] Well, I suppose I’m still the shining example of punctuality. [She sweeps thru the center-door, carrying a large black-bear muff, a fan of black ostrich-plumes, and a note-book and pencil.] How do you do, Mr. Ritter,—[She goes towards Mrs. Ritter.]
Ritter. [Nodding] How do you do.
Mrs. Pampinelli. I’m glad to see you.
Mrs. Ritter. [Moving towards Mrs. P.] Hello, Betty.