Mrs. Ritter. [Picking up Nelly’s fan from the table] Lovely. And isn’t this sweet? [Mrs. Pampinelli takes the fan from Mrs. Ritter and returns the wrap.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. Charming.
Mrs. Fell. I’m so glad you like it;—I was afraid at first perhaps it might make me look a little too much like a bride.
Ritter. [With mock derision] Ha! [Nelly snaps her head toward him and pins him with a narrow glare.]
Mrs. Fell. Don’t be peevish, Frederick—
Mrs. Ritter. [To Mrs. Pampinelli, as she takes the fan from her and replaces it on the table] Isn’t he terrible!
Mrs. Fell. It isn’t my fault that your wife is a great actress. [She gives a comic nod and wink at Mrs. Ritter. Ritter laughs.]
Mrs. Ritter. [Starting towards the door up above the casement-window, at the right, with Mrs. Fell’s cape] Now, Fred Ritter, you just stop that!
Mrs. Pampinelli. Never mind him, Paula—[Paula goes out with the cape.] He’ll probably change his tune after tomorrow night. [Mrs. Fell picks up her fan and commences to fan herself.]
Ritter. [Standing over above the table at the left, smoking] I’m thinking of what happened to poor Jimmy Sheppard. [Jenny comes in at the left hallway, carrying a small punch-bowl filled with claret, which she sets down carefully on the little stand in the hallway. Mrs. Ritter re-enters from the door on the right and crosses over to Jenny, whom she assists.]