Hossefrosse. But, it seems to me there should be some other way.
Florence. [Moving to the right, above the table] There is, my dear boy,—for lots of people——
Ritter. [at the telephone] Hello? [Jenny goes out.]
Florence. But not for you.
Ritter. Yes.
Florence. You’re too respectable—Physically, I mean. [She laughs a little, and stands above the table looking at him.]
Ritter. Well, wait a minute, I’ll talk to you upstairs. [He sets the telephone down and starts towards the right to go upstairs. As he passes the center-door he speaks to Teddy, who is still sitting just inside the center-door on the right partition-seat.] Hang that up when I get on, will you, Teddy? [Teddy jumps up and goes out to the telephone, and holds it, waiting till Ritter gets on the extension upstairs.]
Florence. And Mrs. Rush has what it appears to me to be a rather—primitive husband—[Hossefrosse gives her a narrow look.] and you have a very modern wife. So be wise, Clyde; you know what usually happens to him who “loves the danger.” [There is a loud knock at the right door. Hossefrosse jumps to his feet and stands looking fearfully toward it. Florence assumes all the dignity at her command, drawing herself up, placing her right hand upon her throat, her left on her hip, and waiting,—the proud but outraged wife. Mrs. Pampinelli holds up both hands and looks in the direction of the door, to impress everybody with the dramatic value of the situation. Teddy hangs up the receiver and stands watching her. Nelly Fell straightens up briskly and sits watching the door, in expectant attention. Then Mrs. Pampinelli makes a gesture to Florence to go on with her lines.] Go into your office, I’ll talk to this woman. [Hossefrosse drops his head and shoulders and slinks across in front of the table, a beaten man. He continues up to the center-door and out, into the right hallway. The knock is repeated at the right door. Mrs. Pampinelli motions to Teddy that that is his cue to open the door. He comes through the center-door and crosses above the piano to the right door, Mrs. Pampinelli at the same time moving over to the arm-chair at the right and enshrining herself. Teddy opens the door; and Mrs. Ritter swishes in self-consciously. Nelly Fell and Mr. Twiller give a little ripple of applause, but Mrs. Pampinelli holds one finger up toward Nelly and shushes her. Mrs. Ritter is wearing a rather bizarre-looking hat, set at something of a challenging angle, and as she comes forward at the right of the piano, she bursts into a self-conscious giggle. But Mrs. Pampinelli reproves her with a look. So she controls herself and crosses below the piano, Teddy, simultaneously, crossing above the piano. She stops at the corner of the piano and rests her left hand upon it. Then she places her right hand upon her hip, and, tilting her head back, looks at Teddy, who has stopped directly above her. Ritter appears on the stairway, and moves down a step or two, watching his wife, narrowly.]
Mrs. Ritter. [Flipping her left hand at Teddy, in an attempt to give a fly impression] Hello, kid.
Teddy. Hello, Mrs. Arlington. [Mrs. Ritter swishes down towards the left, shaking her head from side to side and holding her arms akimbo. She turns around to her left, gives Florence a look, supposed to be a very contemptuous look, and stands in the middle of the room again, facing Teddy.]