CLARA. It's full of people from Kansas and Wyoming Territory come to hear the Opera! RUTH. A little western blood wouldn't hurt our New York life a bit! CLARA. Ah! Got you there! The west is the place where the divorces come from! MRS. HUNTER. [_Laughs._] What's the matter with Providence? I think Rhode Island tips the scales pretty even for the east! BLANCHE. Please go, mother; please leave me for a little while. MRS. HUNTER. Oh, very well, good-by! [LEONARD _enters Right with a Christmas parcel, which he places on the table Right._] Dear me, have you had all these Christmas presents and not opened them? BLANCHE. It is only little Richard in this house who is celebrating Christmas to-day. MRS. HUNTER. It's a terrible affair; I only hope the newspapers won't get hold of it. [_To_ LEONARD.] If any women come here asking for _me_ who look like ladies, don't let 'em in! They ain't my friends; they're reporters. [LEONARD _bows and goes out._ CLARA. I'm awfully sorry, Blanche, I honestly am; but I think you'll have only yourself to blame if you don't strike out now and throw Dick over. Good-by! [MRS. HUNTER _and_ CLARA _go out Right._ BLANCHE. I wish _they_ wouldn't advise me to do what I _want_ to. RUTH. Ah! BLANCHE. But who do I harm by it? Surely, it wouldn't be for _his_ good to be brought up under the influence of his father! RUTH. If he saw you patiently bearing a cross for the sake of duty, can you imagine a stronger force for good on the boy's character? What an example _you_ will set him! What a chance for a mother! BLANCHE. But my own life, my own happiness? RUTH. Ah, my dear, that's just it! The watchword of our age is self! We are all for ourselves; the twentieth century is to be a glorification of selfishness, the Era of Egotism! Forget yourself, and what would you do? The dignified thing. You would live quietly _beside_ your husband if not _with_ him. And your son would be worthy of such a mother! BLANCHE. And I? RUTH. You would be _glad_ in the end. BLANCHE. Perhaps-- RUTH. Surely! Blanche, for twenty years Mr. Mason and I have loved each other. [BLANCHE _is astonished. There is a pause._ [RUTH _smiles while she speaks, though her voice breaks._] You never guessed! Ah, well, your father knew. BLANCHE. But Mrs. Mason is hopelessly insane; surely-- RUTH. A principle is a principle; I took my stand against divorce. What can you do for a principle if you don't give up everything for it? Nothing! And that is what I mean. To-day I am not sorry--I am happy. [_There is another slight pause._ RICHARD _is heard upstairs singing a Christmas carol, "Once in Royal David's City," etc._ BLANCHE. [_With great emotion._] But if it breaks my heart--if it breaks my heart? RUTH. Hearts don't break from the pain that comes of doing right, but from the sorrow of doing wrong! [_Neither woman speaks for a minute; in the silence_ RUTH _hears_ RICHARD.] What's that?