PETER. O dear! I've eaten so many ices and fancy cakes, I've got awful indigestion, and I'm trying to swallow a charcoal tablet. RUTH. Come with me and get a glass of water. PETER. No, it's very bad to drink water with your meals; but I'll get a piece of bridesmaid's cake--that'll push it down! [_PETER and RUTH go out through the double doors._ [_The moment they are out of the room, MAGGIE comes from behind the curtain and goes straight up to GEOFFREY. He looks astonished and frightened._ GEOFFREY. What do you want? Have you been listening? MAGGIE. So that's it, is it? You want to marry her when you can get rid of me. GEOFFREY. [_With relief._] What do you mean? MAGGIE. Oh, I may not have heard everything, but I heard and saw enough to catch on that you're in love with Miss Chester. GEOFFREY. Well? MAGGIE. Well, you won't marry her--I'll never set you free. GEOFFREY. Sh! [_Looking about and closing the doors._ MAGGIE. Oh, they're all in the dining room. GEOFFREY. [_Angry._] What do you want, anyway? MAGGIE. [_She pleads a little._] When I came here to your house and got a position, it was because I _loved_ you, if you _had_ treated me bad, and I hoped by seeing you again, and being near you, you might come back to me and everything be made straight! GEOFFREY. Never! Never! It's impossible. MAGGIE. [_Angry again._] Oh, is it! Well, the dirty little money you give me now only holds my tongue quiet so long's you behave yourself and don't run after any other girls! But the minute you try to throw me down, I'll come out with the whole story. GEOFFREY. I was drunk when I married you! MAGGIE. More shame to you! GEOFFREY. You're right. But I was only twenty--and you--led me on-- MAGGIE. [_Interrupting him._] Me! led you on! _me_, as decent and nice a girl as there was in New Haven if I do do housework, and that's my wedding ring and you put it there, and mother's got the certificate locked up good and safe in her box with my dead baby sister's hair and the silver plate off my father's coffin! GEOFFREY. We mustn't talk here any more! MAGGIE. You look out! If I wasn't so fond of your sister Miss Jinny, and if the old people weren't so good to me, I'd just show you right up _here_--_now_! GEOFFREY. I'll _buy_ you off if I can't divorce you! MAGGIE. _You!_ Poof! [_GIRLS' voices are heard from the ballroom._ GEOFFREY. Look out--some one's coming! MAGGIE. [_Going._] You haven't got a red cent; my cheque's always one of your _father's_! [_She goes out Right._ GEOFFREY. Good God! what am I going to do--shoot myself, if I don't get out of this soon--I must get some air! [_He goes out Left._