Very true. Where would this be, This beautiful thing that Colonel Egerton Has built with so much labor and so much taste? And out there in the world where we all dwell, Where all of us have places in the walls, Some working with their hands on farms, in mines; Some building; some at forges; at machines Weaving our garments; others more endowed Loaned to us from the higher planes of being, Men of the Over-Soul, inventors, dreamers, Planners of longer railroads, bigger mills, The great preparers for the finer souls That build the dome, the finishers of things, Prophets of God, musicians, artists, poets, As we've all seen how Colonel Egerton In his third story has his books and pictures-- Suppose a bitter wind of discontent Should shake the great walls of this social order, Set the first story men against the second, The second against the third, until the mass, Throwing their tools down on the world's great floor, Should clamor up the dome for pens and brushes, Shutting their eyes to the cold facts of life That we climb up Life's ladder by degrees-- (_His attention is attracted for a moment to a group of men that has been collecting forward centre, evidently concerned with whatever it is that is going on in the side room_) BISHOP HARDBROOKE. (_Recovering himself quickly_) But I'm afraid, my friends---- SEVERAL. Go on! Go on! BISHOP HARDBROOKE. I'm wasting good material for a sermon. A MAN'S VOICE. Pearls before swine. BISHOP HARDBROOKE. I started to say brethren. (_Laughter_) A LADY. (_In the foreground_) Isn't he just too bright for anything! BISHOP HARDBROOKE. But now---- A MAN. (_Joining the group_) What's up? BISHOP HARDBROOKE. To come home to the task That brother Egerton lays upon our ears. We have all of us read stories and seen things. (_Laughter_) A VOICE. But ghosts of trees? (_General laughter_) BISHOP HARDBROOKE. That, I admit, is rare. (_Mrs. Egerton, who, since the ringing of the telephone bell, has shown an increasing anxiety as to the message that has come, unable longer to contain herself, comes hurriedly forward through the people_) BISHOP HARDBROOKE. Don't let us scare you, sister Egerton. (_Laughter. The people turn just in time to see Governor Braddock, General Chadbourne, and Ralph Ardsley with overcoats on and hats in their hands, stealing across to get out forward right. Mrs. Egerton hurries into the room from which they came_) RALPH ARDSLEY. It's nothing. (_The three go out_) VOICES. What's the matter? What's the matter? PALE LADY. It's something terrible, I know it is. LADY IN BLACK. We always have to pay for our good times. (_George Egerton and Gladys Egerton come quickly from the conservatory and enter the side room_) ELDERLY LADY.