BELLE. Thank you, Jinny! Thank you! [_A little moved._ GRACE. Mercy! I hope you're not going to take each one of us! JINNY. I am, and come here, _you're_ next! GRACE. I'll swear I don't want to get married at all! JINNY. Don't be silly, you _icicle_! Of course you don't; you freeze all the men away, so that you've no idea how nice and comfy they can be! My advice to you, Grace darling,--and I _love_ you, or I wouldn't bother,--is to _thaw_! [_Laughs._] I used to be awfully jealous of you-- GRACE. [_Interrupting._] Oh! JINNY. Yes, I was! You're lots prettier than I am. GRACE. Jinny! JINNY. You _are_! But I got over it because I soon saw you were so cold, there was no danger of any conflagration near you! Oh, I've watched your _eyes_ often to see if any man had lighted the fires in them yet. And now I'm determined they shall be lighted. You're too _cold_! Thaw, dear,--not to _everybody_,--that would be like slushy weather, but don't keep yourself so continually so far below zero that you won't have time to strike--well--say eighty-five in _the shade_, when the right bit of masculine sunshine _does_ come along! Here--with my best love! [_Giving her a small jewelry box._ [_GRACE kisses JINNY._ GERTRUDE. I am the next _victim_, I believe! JINNY. All I've got to say to _you_, Miss, is, that if you don't decide pretty soon on _one_ of the half dozen men you are flirting with _disgracefully_ at present, they'll every one find you out and you'll have to go in for widowers. GERTRUDE. [_Mockingly._] Horrors! JINNY. Oh, I don't know! I suppose a widower is sort of _broken in_ and would be more likely to put up with your caprices! For the sake of your charm and wit and true heart underneath it all, you dear old girl you! [_Giving her a small jewel box._ GERTRUDE. Thank you, Jinny. I'm only afraid I will do the wrong thing with you away! You know you're always my ballast! JINNY. Nonsense! Female ballast is no good; masculine ballast is the only kind that's safe if you want to make life's journey in a love balloon. [_SHE turns to RUTH CHESTER._] Ruth--the trouble with you is, you're too sad lately, and show such a lack of interest. I should think you might be in love, only I haven't been able to find the man. Anyway, if you aren't in love, you must _pretend_ an interest in things. Of course, men's affairs are awfully dull, but they don't like you to talk about them, so it's really very easy. All you have to do is listen, stare them straight in the eyes, think of whatever you like, and look pleased! It _does_ flatter them, and they think _they_ are _interesting_, and you _charming_! Wear this, and think of me! [_Giving her a box._] and be happy! I _want_ you to be _happy_--and I can see you aren't! RUTH. [_Kissing her._] Thank you, dear! JINNY. There, that's all!--except--when I come home from abroad in October, if every one of you aren't engaged to be married, I'll wash my hands of you-- [_They all laugh._