LOUISE. Well, my dear mother, you must have hips sometime in your life, and you've done pretty well. Look at your friend, Mrs. Brint.
[FOOTMAN _enters with tray, goes to table Right, and collects the small cups and saucers._
MRS. CARLEY. My dear! when Sarah Brint was _married_ she looked like a widow! [LOUISE _laughs._] It made me so mad seeing the people eat everything the way they did.
LOUISE. Mamma, you're so amusing. Of course we do have good food; we must get people here somehow.
MRS. CARLEY. And I not daring to eat a thing! Why is it nice things are all fattening?
LOUISE. [_Rises and comes to_ MRS. CARLEY.] Does it strike you that this dress of mine makes me look too short-waisted?
MRS. CARLEY. Turn round. [LOUISE _does so._] Yes! don't wear it again.
LOUISE. [_Irritated._] Why didn't you tell me before lunch?
LOUISE. [_Angry. Turns to mirror and then to_ MRS. CARLEY.] That's just it! You don't care! You don't think of me ever! You only think of yourself!
MRS. CARLEY. [_Angry._] That's not true. I've sacrificed my life for you, and for what good?
LOUISE. What good! Good heavens, haven't Steve and I done everything for you, lugged you into the best position almost in New York?
MRS. CARLEY. Yes, that's just it, "_almost!_" Your husband hates me and you back him up--and keep me in the background!
LOUISE. I couldn't! You wouldn't stay there.
MRS. CARLEY. [_Sits in chair left of the table._] That's it, insult me,--but I've had enough! I've made up my mind, anyway, to leave your house and live by myself.
LOUISE. Oh, stop, mamma. You know I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry!
MRS. CARLEY. [_Crying._] No, I'm in the way.
LOUISE. You're not in the way. You know I couldn't live without my darling pretty little mamma. Please stop crying and kiss me.
MRS. CARLEY. [_Still crying._] I haven't anybody in the world but you.
LOUISE. Don't I know that, don't I know I couldn't get on without you! There! [_Kisses her._] Now it's all right. Come on, darling, come up and get your hair dyed.
MRS. CARLEY. [_Pleasantly._] Sh! don't _call_ it that!
LOUISE. I am irritable lately, I know it--but I see without our money even Steve couldn't get us a decent position. We might just as well face the truth. Certain people don't appreciate you and me, mamma. We aren't even acquired tastes.