BETTY They _were_ there--they've adjourned to Thaddeus Stevens' house across the street from us---- They were locked in with father for two hours---- MRS. LINCOLN Locked in----? BETTY [_Nods._] With the keyhole chinked up----! MRS. LINCOLN And you didn't get a hint of what they're up to----? BETTY Not the faintest---- MRS. LINCOLN Oh, Betty--they're discussing me---- BETTY They didn't mention your name---- MRS. LINCOLN How do you know----? BETTY Well--I did hear a little----! I could hear from the next room when they got excited! It's Abraham Lincoln they're discussing--not his wife---- MRS. LINCOLN You're sure----? BETTY Sure----! It sounded like a regular dog fight--with one big brute howling---- [_Imitates._] --the President's name above the din---- MRS. LINCOLN But, you can't be sure, my dear---- BETTY What on earth could they be discussing you for----? MRS. LINCOLN My loyalty, of course--you know that my brothers are in the Southern Army, fighting the Union. Fools have accused me of giving them important secrets of the Government. When I _hate_ them for all they have done to me and mine----! BETTY But my dear Mrs. Lincoln--no one believes such lies about you now--not even in this bitter campaign--it's absurd---- MRS. LINCOLN [_Hesitates._] That is not the real thing I'm afraid of, child--it's something worse--I'm going to take you into my confidence now--may I? BETTY I'll be tickled to death with the honor----! MRS. LINCOLN And I'm going to ask you to help me---- BETTY I'll be in the Cabinet next----! MRS. LINCOLN The truth is, I owe A. T. Stewart and Company an enormous bill for dresses--$60,000---- BETTY Sixty thousand--oh, my Lord! That's worse than mine----! MRS. LINCOLN I had to get them! The world said the White House would be disgraced by my awkward husband's regime--I've shown them better! But I just couldn't tell Mr. Lincoln. He has no idea of the cost of clothes. If these jackals have found out and attack him on my account, the thought of it will kill me---- BETTY But you know he'd defend you against any one who dares attack you. MRS. LINCOLN Yes, dear--but it would hurt him so to hear it from their brutal lips. I want you to find out from your father, if they know----