(MAGGIE enters, followed by FREDDY BEENSTOCK and then WILL. MAGGIE and WILL are actually about to be married, but their dress does not specially indicate it. They are not in their older clothes, and that is all. FREDDY is smarter than either, though only in his everyday dress. He is not at all a blood, but the respectable son of a respectable tradesman, and his appearance is such as to justify his attractiveness in VICKEY'S eyes. WILL, very shy, remains up L. C. near the counter.)
ALICE. Maggie, you here!
MAGGIE. I thought we'd just drop in. Vickey, what's this that Mr. Beenstock's telling me about you and him?
VICKEY (sullenly). If he's told you I suppose you know.
FREDDY (L. of counter, smilingly). She got it out of me, Vickey.
VICKEY. I don't know that it's any business of yours, Maggie.
(The positions now are VICKEY R., MAGGIE R. C., FREDDY C., WILL up L. C., ALICE down L. C.)
MAGGIE. You'll never get no farther with it by yourselves from what I hear of father's carryings-on.
VICKEY. That's your fault. Yours and his. (Moving behind counter and indicating WILLIE, who is trying to efface himself at the back.)
MAGGIE (sharply). Leave that alone. I'm here to help you if you'll have my help.