(RANDOLPH _goes out, closing the door. Sabine stands a moment, then turns to the window and looks off till he sees the car has driven away. He turns down the light and then crossing eagerly, he knocks on_ PAULA’S _door. He repeats this._) Paula! Paula!! (_He stands waiting._) [CURTAIN] [E] Copyright by George Middleton. See back of title page. THE HOUSE THE PEOPLE CHARLES RAY, a _professor of philosophy_. ELIZABETH, _his wife_. SCENE _A room in an apartment hotel suite. One evening._ THE HOUSE[F] _PROFESSOR and MRS. RAY are at the little table finishing their coffee. In the center there is a white-robed birthday cake with three golden candles sending a gentle light on them. A myriad of faint wrinkles on the_ PROFESSOR’S _kindly face might betray his age, though his thin body, in spite of its slight stoop, belies his seventy years. As he sits there precisely dressed in his evening clothes, he is the personification of fine breeding, the incarnation of all that blood and culture can produce. And through it all, there glows an alluring whimsy which one has no right to expect in a professor of philosophy._ MRS. RAY, _gowned also for the ceremony they are celebrating, is ten years younger; soft and gentle, too, yet sadder somehow, as though, in spite of her effort to live in his enthusiasms, it has become a bit difficult to sustain his mood of happiness._ _But as they sip their coffee alone in the hotel suite with its conventional furnishings of a stereotyped comfort, graced only by a large bunch of white roses, one senses the deep and abiding affection which has warmed their long life together._ PROFESSOR (_With a sigh of contentment_) Ah! (_He sees she is thoughtful: he reaches over and takes from behind the table the quart bottle of champagne. He pours a little in her glass._) MRS. RAY Oh, dear; I’m afraid I’ve had enough. PROFESSOR Nonsense. MRS. RAY But I’m beginning to feel it. PROFESSOR That’s the intention. (_Filling his glass._) There. Now a toast. (_Standing with the greatest gallantry._) Here’s to my comrade of forty years: may we have as many more together. MRS. RAY Oh, Charles, I’m afraid that’s asking too much of Providence. PROFESSOR We should ask much and be satisfied with less. MRS. RAY (_Raising her glass_) To my friend and husband. PROFESSOR You make a distinction? MRS. RAY The world does. PROFESSOR What is the world doing here on our wedding anniversary? (_Seriously_) Let’s drink to each other--and the children. MRS. RAY (_Wistfully looking at the candles_) And the children. (_They sip: he shows he enjoys it; she sits thoughtfully while he takes out his cigarette case. He starts to take one, and then, with a twinkle in his eyes, offers her the case._) PROFESSOR Cigarette, dear? MRS. RAY (_Smiling_) No: thank you. I shan’t begin at my time of life. PROFESSOR