Well, if we’re ever going to see that ancient jewelry before we’re as old as it is, I suppose we’d better try and find it. MRS. MORROW But I’ll have to tell Jim I came especially to see his beast: he’ll want to know what it looks like, the poor dear! (ELIZABETH LIVINGSTON _enters. She is a woman of such an indefinite age that she must be past her early thirties. Handsome, well-groomed and yet a bit hectic, her secret is that she is a born intriguanté and likes to see men feverish._ _She sees_ HOOD: _he sees her: the two women catch this exchange of glances, though_ HOOD _instantly resumes reading and_ BESS _goes quickly to the case opposite not to betray she is there to meet_ HOOD. _The two women exchange significant glances._ HOOD _looks up and catches_ MRS. MORROW _eyeing him through her lorgnette. He rises in question._) MRS. MORROW (_To cover it_) I beg pardon. Do _you_ happen to know where they keep the ancient jewelry? HOOD (_Politely_) I think it’s to the right. MRS. VAN DYKE But that’s what the other man said. HOOD Have you tried the long hall? MRS. MORROW But _which_ hall? HOOD (_Obviously trying to get rid of them_) The very _furthest_ hall. MRS. MORROW Oh.... (_She turns to_ MRS. VAN DYKE.) The very furthest hall, he said. (_Aside to her as they turn_) I’m afraid we’re _de trop_. I’m sure it’s.... MRS. VAN DYKE I thought so, too; and with a different tame robin this time. (_As she turns and looks at the_ BRONTOSAURUS.) I’m glad I won’t look like Jim’s beast when I’m dead. MRS. MORROW Well, dear, we’ll never be found in a museum at any rate. MRS. VAN DYKE (_As they go up_) I don’t know. I’m most dead already. (MRS. MORROW _gives a look at_ BESS _through her lorgnette. They go out obviously gossiping about her._ HOOD _takes a step to see they have gone. Then he turns tensely._) HOOD Bess! BESS Oh, Bob! HOOD Dearest! BESS Be careful. Somebody may see us. I’m sure those women.... HOOD (_With extravagant expression_) I’d like the whole world to see us. I can’t stand this much longer. Bess, I want you. BESS I know. Sh! (SARAH _comes from out of aisle, goes out of sight, obviously to clean another aisle. But she has seen them and gives a knowing smile as though such rendezvous were not unusual._) HOOD It can’t go on like this. BESS Aren’t you satisfied with what we’ve already had? HOOD (_Unconsciously playing up to the situation_) I want all or nothing--the _you_ all the world has, too. I.... BESS Yes? Say it. I like to hear you say it. HOOD I want you to be my wife. (_Intensely_) Bess! Bess! Will you? BESS Give me time to think. HOOD But it can’t go on like this ... having me meet you in strange places ... always being afraid. Bess, you love me, don’t you? BESS Oh, Bob! HOOD You’ve never loved anybody before as you love me? BESS Oh, no; you’re so fine and strong and.... HOOD