(_Margaret sits moodily in chair with head propped on knees. Helen sits toying with some fancy work._)
HELEN—For goodness sake, Margaret, cheer up, you’re not dead yet!
MARGARET—I wish I were. What am I going to do? and Edith is due any minute. I wonder what made Lizzie strike today.
HELEN—(_explosively_) Well, do you know, I like her!
MARGARET—(_in surprise_) Do you really? Well, I believe I do myself. There’s something rather refreshing about her and she’s so frank and good-natured. She doesn’t bear the least grudge for that horrid letter we sent. Perhaps she doesn’t see anything wrong with it though. Oh, whatever made me do it? I feel as mean as dirt everytime I think of it. I’d give anything if I had never written it.
HELEN—Yes, I guess it was pretty shabby, but what’s done cannot be undone. Anyway, I don’t suppose she knows enough to take offense at it. (_Starting up._) Oh, I have an idea!
MARGARET—(_moodily_), I notice that you do catch on to one once in a while. Well let’s hear it.
HELEN—(_aside in disgust_) Now, wouldn’t that crimp you! She couldn’t find an idea all by herself in a thousand years. (_Aloud_). Why, I was just thinking that Lizzie would look quite pretty if she had a decent dress to wear and was fixed up some. Now, what’s to hinder you lending her one of your pretty dresses and doing her hair in some becoming fashion? I bet she wouldn’t look bad at all.
MARGARET—Why, she wouldn’t. I’ll go right up now and do it (_starts toward exit_), or she’ll be coming down in some awful concoction of a dress. Oh, dear, I feel awfully nervous.
HELEN—Did you hear what she said about nerves? The very idea, when nerves are all the go now. (_Bell rings_). Oh, there’s Edith now. I wish she had stayed away for half an hour longer.
MARGARET—So do I. And however will I manage to fix Lizzie up now?
HELEN—Talk for a few minutes and then excuse yourself and I’ll entertain Edith until you come back.
MARGARET—(_warmly_) Helen, you’re a dear and just full of ideas. I don’t know what I’d do without you. (_Goes out_).
HELEN—(_aside dramatically_), Behold the expanding of Miss Margaret Neilson’s character. She is actually wakening up to what I am trying to do for her and has even expressed one grain of gratitude. Well I guess I’ll hang on to the grain, perhaps it will sprout. (_Sees Lizzie’s hat and fancy work._) Goodness I’d better get these out of sight or they’d be a sure giveaway. (_Runs and thrusts fancy work under a cushion and throws hat behind couch. Margaret appears arm in arm with Edith who is well but quietly dressed. Helen goes to meet them._)