(MADGE _comes to desk, gets her letter, goes down to foot of sofa and hands it to_ PHYLLIS. STEELE _sees that_ CELIA _has finished letter and comes slowly down_ C.) CELIA. Of course, I will help you, Mr. Tarver. It's awfully nice to have _you_ ask _me_ for help, you know. TARVER. Oh, thanks awfully. (_Goes up and around to_ PHYLLIS, _who is on sofa, talks to_ MADGE _and_ PHYLLIS.) STEELE. You have finished, Miss Faraday? CELIA. Yes. STEELE. May I put that letter in the box for you? CELIA. No, thanks. I will see to it. STEELE. Well--wouldn't you like to come and play a game of billiards? CELIA. No, thank you. I really must go and change my shoes. (_Indicating her feet_) You can see that these are quite damp. STEELE. (_Most graciously_) I can't be expected to see things so small as that. But--(_Getting chair from left_) Won't you let me talk to you for just a minute? CELIA. (_Rising_) I really must go and change. (STEELE _disconsolately and slowly puts back chair, leaving it turned on stage. He stands watching_ CELIA _for a moment, then walks up_ L. _of table_ L., _looking at big picture on left wall as he goes_. NOTE: EVELYN _should give him a signal when_ CELIA _exits_.) MADGE. I will go with you, dear. (_Goes to door_ R.I _and takes the knob in her hand_.) (TARVER _sits on fender, leans over and talks intently to_ PHYLLIS.) CELIA. No, don't bother, Madgie. [Illustration: "Green Stockings" _Page_ 19] MADGE. It's no bother. I have a lovely new frock I want to show you. You might want to copy it for your trousseau. (_Exit_ R.) CELIA. (_Puzzled_) My trousseau? (_Recovers herself_) My trousseau, oh, yes, yes, my trousseau. (_Looks quickly and vainly about for some place to hide letter, either in her dress or under the table. No one is looking at_ CELIA _during this business. She sees large blue envelope in which she has already placed two unopened letters_. NOTE: _The flap of this large envelope must be turned in. She quickly holds it up and slips the letter to_ SMITH _inside and hides it between the periodicals on lower end of table. She then looks around to see that no one has observed her and exits quickly_ R.) (PHYLLIS _beckons to_ TARVER _and he sits beside her on sofa. Immediately_ CELIA _exits_, STEELE _starts after her. When he gets down_ R.C., RALEIGH _rushes after him, carrying a card_.) RALEIGH. Where are you going? STEELE. I thought perhaps Miss Faraday might let me put on her slippers. RALEIGH. (_Taking_ STEELE _by the arm_) Well, she is not going to put them on in the hall. She has gone to her room. You come back here. GRICE. (_Shouts loudly and bangs table and jumps up_) Raleigh! FARADAY. Is this a game of bridge or a game of tag? RALEIGH _and_ STEELE. I beg your pardon! (_They rush back to card room and_ RALEIGH _plays card that he has carried away_.) FARADAY. There now, he revoked too, and that's game and rubber.