MRS TARLETON. _[going to the steps]_ Do you think it's good for you to eat so many oranges? Arnt you afraid of getting jaundice? LINA. _[coming down]_ Not in the least. But billiard balls will do quite as well. MRS TARLETON. But you cant eat billiard balls, child! TARLETON. Get em, Chickabiddy. I understand. _[He imitates a juggler tossing up balls]._ Eh? LINA. _[going to him, past his wife]_ Just so. TARLETON. Billiard balls and cues. Plates, knives, and forks. Two paraffin lamps and a hatstand. LINA. No: that is popular low-class business. In our family we touch nothing but classical work. Anybody can do lamps and hatstands. _I_ can do silver bullets. That is really hard. _[She passes on to Lord Summerhays, and looks gravely down at him as he sits by the writing table]._ MRS TARLETON. Well, I'm sure I dont know what youre talking about; and I only hope you know yourselves. However, you shall have what you want, of course. _[She goes up the steps and leaves the room]._ LORD SUMMERHAYS. Will you forgive my curiosity? What is the Bible for? LINA. To quiet my soul. LORD SUMMERHAYS _[with a sigh]_ Ah yes, yes. It no longer quiets mine, I am sorry to say. LINA. That is because you do not know how to read it. Put it up before you on a stand; and open it at the Psalms. When you can read them and understand them, quite quietly and happily, and keep six balls in the air all the time, you are in perfect condition; and youll never make a mistake that evening. If you find you cant do that, then go and pray until you can. And be very careful that evening. LORD SUMMERHAYS. Is that the usual form of test in your profession? LINA. Nothing that we Szczepanowskis do is usual, my lord. LORD SUMMERHAYS. Are you all so wonderful? LINA. It is our profession to be wonderful. LORD SUMMERHAYS. Do you never condescend to do as common people do? For instance, do you not pray as common people pray? LINA. Common people do not pray, my lord: they only beg. LORD SUMMERHAYS. You never ask for anything? LINA. No. LORD SUMMERHAYS. Then why do you pray? LINA. To remind myself that I have a soul. TARLETON. _[walking about]_ True. Fine. Good. Beautiful. All this damned materialism: what good is it to anybody? Ive got a soul: dont tell me I havnt. Cut me up and you cant find it. Cut up a steam engine and you cant find the steam. But, by George, it makes the engine go. Say what you will, Summerhays, the divine spark is a fact. LORD SUMMERHAYS. Have I denied it? TARLETON. Our whole civilization is a denial of it. Read Walt Whitman. LORD SUMMERHAYS. I shall go to the billiard room and get the balls for you. LINA. Thank you. _Lord Summerhays goes out through the vestibule door._