FARADAY. (_Coming forward_ L.C.) Well, we might as well have some bridge. (_Murmurs of_ "_Oh, splendid!_") RALEIGH. (_With a shout of relief backs away from_ CELIA _toward card room_) _Bridge! Oh, splendid!_ (EVELYN _and_ STEELE _go slowly to card room_. TARVER _starts_ L.) GRICE. (_Quickly_) Tarver, I have another question to ask you. TARVER. (_To_ FARADAY, _enthusiastically_) Admiral Grice plays a ripping game. FARADAY. (_Gayly_) Come along, Admiral. Come along. GRICE. (_Crossing left_. FARADAY _takes him by the arm. They go up to card room together, chatting gayly_) Not bad. Not bad. (_These last few lines are played very quickly_. CELIA _has remained in chair_ R. _of_ L. _table after_ RALEIGH _has gone to card room_. AUNT IDA _and_ MADGE _are standing up stage and those who have gone into the card room seat themselves in the following fashion, after the settling of partners in dumb show_: RALEIGH _is seated down stage, his back to the audience_; LADY TRENCHARD _to his right_, FARADAY _to his left, and_ ADMIRAL GRICE _opposite him. They begin their game of bridge_. TARVER _has gone up_ R. _of sofa, getting a cigarette at head of table_. PHYLLIS _throws herself lightly on the sofa on her knees, gathering up_ CELIA'S _letters and flourishing them at her_.) PHYLLIS. Celia, here are some letters for you. CELIA. (_Crossing to chair_ L. _of table_ R. _and sitting_) Letters for me? PHYLLIS. One is a big one. (_Gives_ CELIA _letters, kneeling on sofa_.) CELIA. I don't suppose any of them are very important. PHYLLIS. (_Pityingly_) No, I don't suppose so. CELIA. (_Looking at letters_) Circulars. Circulars. (_Tears open one envelope and takes out circular letter. Then seeing big envelope, says brightly as she picks it up and draws out fashion plates_) Oh, spring fashions. PHYLLIS. (_With an air of superiority_) Oh, _you_ don't want those. Give them to _me_. (CELIA _submissively hands them, over, leaving large blue envelope on table_. PHYLLIS _takes them and sits on sofa with_ TARVER, _who has come down after lighting his cigarette. They hold hands, backs to_ CELIA, _looking at fashions_.) CELIA. (_Reading letter that she has opened_) "Dear Sir or Madam: Having secured our unparalleled stock of sherry wine on a falling market----" (_Drops envelope and opens another. Reads_) "Dear Madam: You are cordially invited to attend our spring opening of household linens--" FARADAY. (_Coming from card room_) Madge, you will play? MADGE. No, thanks, I'll finish my letter. (_Who has been talking to_ AUNT IDA, _goes back to writing table up_ R. _and resumes writing_.) FARADAY. (_Disappointedly_) And Phyllis doesn't. AUNT IDA. Well, there's Celia. FARADAY. (_Coming down to_ CELIA,) God bless my soul! Of course, why did I forget? CELIA. Oh--that's all right, Father. (_Cheerfully opening her letters_) It's being done, you know.