Mrs. Fell. [Appearing to have some difficulty locating the defective verb] Where is that, now, that you were saying, Betty?
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Indicating with the point of the pencil] Right there, dear. [Nelly just looks at the spot, through her lorgnon.] This is the point I was speaking to you about last night, Mr. Spindler.
Spindler. [Securing his goggles] Oh, yes, yes! [Ritter draws Mrs. Ritter’s attention to the group down at the table. She reproves him with a steady stare. He smiles and shakes his head hopelessly.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. You see, this author has employed a defective here, in the perfect tense.
Spindler. [Looking closely] Ah, yes, I see.
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Looking at him directly] So I have changed it. [He straightens up and looks at her, and Mrs. Fell looks from one to the other.]
Spindler. A very good change. [He nods and crosses over to the left, passing below the table at the left. Ritter watches him until he takes up his position just below the mantelpiece, rather ill at ease under Ritter’s gaze.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. I think so. So, if you’ll just watch that Nelly. [She picks up the manuscript.]
Mrs. Fell. All right, I’ll watch it. [She reaches for her bag and takes out a lip-stick. Jenny appears from the left hallway with a tray of cakes, which Mrs. Ritter assists her in making room for on the hall table.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Starting for the center-door] I must show it to Paula, it’s her line. [The door-bell rings.] Paula child. [Jenny passes back of Mrs. Ritter and goes out into the right hallway to answer the door-bell.]