[MISS SILLERTON _is a handsome, attractive woman, most fashionably
dressed and perfectly conventional in character and intelligence._ MISS
GODESBY _is a little slow, more assertive, sharper of tongue, more
acutely intelligent, and equally smartly dressed. She has still a
remnant of real, sincere feeling buried under a cynical mask which her
life in a fast set has developed for her self-preservation._ TROTTER _is
a foolish young person, meaning well enough according to his lights,
which are not of the biggest and brightest._
TROTTER. Classy house altogether!
MISS SILLERTON. Mrs. Hunter went to the most expensive decorator in
town, and told him, no matter what it cost, to go ahead and do his
_worst_!
[_They all laugh and seat themselves comfortably._
TROTTER. Say! The youngest daughter is a good looker--very classy.
MISS SILLERTON. That's the one we told you about, the one we want you to
marry.
MISS GODESBY. Yes, with your money and her cleverness, she'll rubber
neck you into the smartest push in town!
TROTTER. You've promised I shall know the whole classy lot before
spring.
MISS GODESBY. So you will if you do as we tell you. But you mustn't let
society see that you _know_ you're getting in; nothing pleases society
so much as to think you're a blatant idiot. It makes everybody feel
you're their equal--that's why you get in.
TROTTER. I've got a coach and can drive four-in-hand. I've an automobile
drag, and the biggest private yacht in the world building. I'm going to
have the most expensive house in Long Island, where the oysters come
from, and I've bought a lot in Newport twice as big as the swellest
fellow's there. I've got a house in London and a flat in Paris, and I
make money fly. I think I ought to be a cinch as a classy success.
MISS GODESBY. Don't be a yap; flag Clara Hunter and you're all right!
MISS SILLERTON. Her father's position was the best in this country!
TROTTER. But he's dead.
[_Sitting._
MISS GODESBY. A good thing for you, for he would never have stood for
you!
TROTTER. He'd have had to--or do without me as a son-in-law--I wouldn't
marry the Venus of Milo if her father didn't think I was good enough.
I'm no Dodo bird!
MISS GODESBY. It's up to you now, Trotter! Go in and win.
[_Enter_ TOMPSON _Right; a decided change takes place in all their
manners._
TOMPSON. Madam will be down at once, miss.
MISS SILLERTON. Thank you.
[TOMPSON _goes out Right._
MISS GODESBY. Only stay a minute or two, Trotty--we're doing our best
for you, but we must look out for ourselves, too, and we've come here
to-day on business.
MISS SILLERTON. How'll we ever get the subject on to clothes?
MISS GODESBY. Humph! Do you think you can talk five minutes with Mrs.
Hunter and not hit that topic? It's a bull's eye!
TROTTER. I don't see where I'm going to come into this classy
conversation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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