BUTLER. A good many 'appens to be 'aving the sense to be going now. HOUSEMAID. Could you hear Miss Jinny say "I do," and make them other remarks? MAGGIE. Yes, _plain_, though her voice was trembly like. But Mr. Austin he almost shouted! [_Laughing nervously in excitement._ BUTLER. 'E's glad to get 'er! MAGGIE. _And her him!_ HOUSEMAID. Yes, that's what I likes about it. Did any one cry? MAGGIE. Mrs. Tillman. Lots of people are going now. HOUSEMAID. What elegant clothes! Oh, gosh! BUTLER. [_Superciliously._] Mrs. Cullingham don't seem in no 'urry; she's a common lot! MAGGIE. I don't care, she's rich and Miss Jinny likes her; she just throws money around to any poor person or church or hospital that wants it, or _don't_! So she can't be so _very common_ neither, Mr. Potts! HOUSEMAID. Say, I catch on to something! Young Mr. Tillman's sweet on that there tall bridesmaid. MAGGIE. [_Sharply._] Who? BUTLER. Miss Chester. I've seen there was something goin' hon between them whenever she's dined or lunched 'ere. MAGGIE. [_Angry._] 'Tain't true! BUTLER. I'll bet my month's wages. MAGGIE. I don't believe you! BUTLER. Why, what's it to _you_, please? MAGGIE. [_Saving herself._] Nothing-- HOUSEMAID. Well, I guess it's truth enough. That's the second time I've seen him squeeze her hand when no one wasn't lookin'. MAGGIE. Here, change places with me! [_Getting down from her chair._] If you was a gentleman, Mr. Potts, you'd have given me _your place_! [_Witheringly._ BUTLER. If I was a _gentleman_, miss, I wouldn't be here; _I'd_ be on the other side of the door. [_He moves the chairs away._ MAGGIE. [_To Housemaid._] Honest, you saw something between them? HOUSEMAID. Who? MAGGIE. Him and her? Mr. Geoffrey and Miss Chester-- HOUSEMAID. _Cheese it!_ they're coming this way! [_She and the MAID and the BUTLER vanish through the door Right._ [_GEOFFREY and RUTH enter through the double doors quickly at back. GEOFFREY is a young, good-looking man, but with a weak face. He is of course very smartly dressed. RUTH is a very serenely beautiful girl, rather noble in type, but unconscious and unpretending in manner. They close the doors quickly behind them._ GEOFFREY. We'll not be interrupted here, and I must have a few words with you before you go. [_He follows her to the sofa where she sits, and leans over it, with his arm about her shoulder._ RUTH. Oh, Geof,--Geof, why weren't we married like this? GEOFFREY. It couldn't be helped, darling! RUTH. It isn't the big wedding I miss, oh, no, it's only it seemed sweeter in a church. Why did we have to steal off to Brooklyn, to that poor, strange little preacher in his stuffy back parlour, and behave as if we were doing something of which we were ashamed? GEOFFREY. You love me, I love you,--isn't that the chief thing, dearest? RUTH. But how much longer must we keep it secret?