MRS. CARLEY. Yes, I can imagine what that means! A flat with rooms like a string of buttons, mantelpiece beds and divans! and all your friends trying to get into the bathroom when they are looking for the hall door to get out!
[COAST _comes in from the Right. They all look at_ SAM.
GEORGIANA. Do you think Sam has a place here in what we may say now?
MRS. CARLEY. Yes. And the only one of us now anyway who has a cent.
LOUISE. I don't think we can expect much help from Sam as to money.
LOUISE. [_Going to_ COAST.] You'll help us?
COAST. I've offered to make up every cent Steve's lost; ask Georgiana.
GEORGIANA. Yes, Sam offered to make a "trade" with me--
GEORGIANA. To make up Steve's losses if I'd marry him.
MRS. CARLEY. [_Quietly to_ COAST.] Sam! It's too good to be true.
MRS. CARLEY. Don't love him! What do you owe us? Louise loved Steve and what good did it do her? You've got the chance to make up for your brother!
STEVEN. That's not Georgiana's _duty_,--to make up for me.
MRS. CARLEY. You can't do it yourself, and you don't want your wife to starve, do you.
LOUISE. [_To_ GEORGIANA.] You could save us and you won't!
MRS. CARLEY. Don't "love"? Did Molly Packer from Toledo love the Duke of Birmingham? and isn't she happy now?
GEORGIANA. I don't know, I have my doubts.
GEORGIANA. That's not the point, mother. I'm not going to marry Sam.
MRS. CARLEY. Oh, very well, then, have your way.
MRS. CARLEY. [_Going to the sofa._] Don't consider my way at all.
GEORGIANA. I won't, mother, since you ask me not to.
MRS. CARLEY. But I'll tell you this, Georgiana, you're just as bad as Steve! We must shake off both of you. Louise must get a divorce and marry again. Look what other widows have done before her.
[_Louise goes to her mother and takes her hand._
GEORGIANA. [_Goes to them._] _No!_ Listen! You must stand by Steve, both of you. You ought to do it out of affection, for, after all, whatever you've got of friends and position and the things you value he gave you! But never mind that! You ought to stand by him out of loyalty,--but never mind that! You've _got_ to stand by him because if you ruin him you'll ruin yourselves. You and mother could never hold up your heads again in our world--in the world you love--if you left Steve. After all, though our world may be careless sometimes of what it does itself, it is very particular about what those people do who are _its guests_! Of course, Louise, it does come hardest on you, for yourself and for the children--but still you've got to stand by Steve.