BLANCHE. How can I go on loving you without your confidence?--without ever being suffered to give you any sympathy? Doll wives are out of fashion, and even if they weren't, I could never be one. STERLING. [_Laughing._] My dear, I'd never accuse you of being stuffed with sawdust. BLANCHE. Oh, and now you joke about it. Take care, Dick. STERLING. What's this, a threat? BLANCHE. Yes, if you like to call it that. You've been putting me more and more completely out of your life; take care that I don't finish your work and go the last step. STERLING. [_Seizing her roughly by the wrist._] The last step! What do you mean by that? [_Holding her hand more roughly._] _You dare_ to be unfaithful to me! BLANCHE. What! You could think I meant that! Ugh! How could you? STERLING. Well, what did you mean then? Eh? [_Pulling her up close to him, her face close to his. She realizes first by the odor, then by a searching look at his face, that he is partly under the influence of liquor._ BLANCHE. [_With pathetic shame._] Let me go! I see what's the matter with you, but the reason is no excuse; you've been drinking. STERLING. [_Dropping her hand._] Ugh! The usual whimper of a woman! [RUTH _reenters Right._ RUTH. Well, Blanche, dear, your mother's in a calmer frame of mind, and I must go. Dick, can you lunch with me to-morrow? STERLING. [_Hesitating, not caring about it._] Er--to-morrow?--er-- RUTH. Oh, only for business. I must have a new business man now to do all that _he_ did for me, and I'm going to try to make up to you for not having been always your--_best_ friend, by putting my affairs in _your_ hands. BLANCHE. [_Serious, uneasy, almost frightened._] Aunt Ruth-- [_She stops._ RUTH. What, dear? BLANCHE. Nothing. [_She gives_ STERLING _a searching, steady look and keeps her eyes upon him, trying to read his real self._ RUTH. [_Continues to_ STERLING.] Mr. Mason is coming to me in the morning, and if you will lunch with me at one, I will then be able to give all the papers over to you. [STERLING, _who up to this time has been almost dumbfounded by this sudden good fortune, now collects himself, and speaks delightedly but with sufficient reserve of his feelings._ BLANCHE _does not take her eyes from_ STERLING'S _face._ STERLING. Aunt Ruth, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I will do my best. BLANCHE. [_Quickly._] Promise her, Dick, before me--give her your word of honor--you will be faithful to Aunt Ruth's trust. [_He answers_ BLANCHE'S _look steadily with a hard gaze of his own._ RUTH. His acceptance of my trust is equal to that, Blanche. BLANCHE. It is of course, isn't it, Dick? STERLING. Of course. [BLANCHE _is not content, but has to satisfy herself with this._ RUTH. To-morrow at one, then. [_She starts to go._ [JORDAN _enters Left._ JORDAN. Mr. Warden. RUTH. I can't wait. Good-by. [_She goes out Left._ BLANCHE. We will see Mr. Warden. JORDAN. Yes, madam. [_He goes out Left._