DUNN. I'll ring if I require coals. I'll ring, Mary, ring--(_coming down C._) Madame! Niobe! You can't be seen like that, you must do something with _yourself_--(_NIOBE half rises_) You'd better go upstairs and put some of my wife's clothes on!
NIO. (_kneeling_) I tore my Peplos in excess of grief!
DUNN. Yes! Yes! I see you did; go upstairs, and dress while I think out some plan.
_DUNN R. as if in great worry, as NIOBE rises, moving up C._
NIO. (_turning back_) I fear I don't know _how_ to dress _myself_.
DUNN. Oh, well, _I can't_! You must try, try! up the stairs there--on the right--first door when you reach the top.
NIO. Petramos! All my will I'll yield to thine, Do thou but clear thy brow of fretfulness. Thy anger, linked with fury of the gods I could not bear! I could not bear!
_NIOBE exits weeping up stairs C. R., the footlights up through this scene, to assist the comedy, now low again._
DUNN. (_staggered--sits end of couch--a pause_) What an uncompleted idiot I am. My wife will recognize her clothes--(_running to stairs, sees trunk which he secures and brings down stage_) The Governess's trunk! If my keys will only fit it, no, no! They never do--Yes--that's lucky! (_raising lid of trunk and closing it again_) How clever you thought yourself, Peter Amos Dunn, when you suggested to yourself bringing that d----d Statue into the house. It isn't there! It isn't there! (_closes screen--looks round--straightens room--picks up drapery, etc.; crosses to mirror, re-arranges himself, tie, smooths hair, goes down L. of table and pours himself a drink, hand shakes. He cannot get it to his mouth; sops his handkerchief and putting it to his brow, crosses and sits on trunk. Loud knock at door; DUNN jumping up; shoulders trunk and rushes upstairs_)
_Knocking; MARY crosses R. to L.; INNINGS then enters, MARY following L. C._
INN. (_looking at watch_) Oh, well, they won't be long, it's close upon eleven. (_sits on sofa R._)
MARY. I will turn up the lamp, Sir, I thought the Master was here.
INN. They'd have stretched a point and taken me with them, but for that confounded Helen. Perhaps they're walking, it's a beautiful night.
DUNN. (_worried and anxious--down C._) Ah! that's right, Mary, let's have a light on the subject--(_starts at seeing INNINGS_) Back before them, eh Innings? But they can't be long--it's so hot, so late--what's that--is not that a carriage?