_Shaking hands with Mrs. Asterbilt who holds hand high for fashionable hand shake._ How do you do, Mrs. Asterbilt. MRS. ASTERBILT Good evening. MRS. BENSON I hope you’ll excuse— MRS. ASTERBILT _Interrupting._ Mrs. Benson, my husband. MR. ASTERBILT Mrs. Benson, it gives me very great pleasure to make your acquaintance. MRS. ASTERBILT And I suppose this is your daughter. _Shakes hands with her._ MR. BENSON Yes, that’s her. MRS. ASTERBILT You’re a very charming young lady. MR. ASTERBILT _Shaking hands with Ethel._ Indeed you’re very charming, Miss Benson. MRS. BENSON This is my husband, Mrs. Asterbilt. MR. BENSON _Makes a couple of attempts to shake hands with Mrs. Asterbilt and at last finding her hand, which is held high, pulls it down and gives real handshake._ I’m so glad ter know you, Mrs. Asterbilt. (_Shakes with Mr. Asterbilt._) How do ye do, Mr. Asterbilt. By jinks, I’m glad you folks come this evenin’. I was just tellin’ Ethel as how we didn’t know our next door neighbor here in town. Do ye know, Mr. Asterbilt, I don’t think the town folks are near as sociable as us country folks. Won’t ye take your wraps off and stay a while? MRS. ASTERBILT _Removing wraps, hands them to Walter, who wads them all up in his arms and drops Asterbilt’s hat._ I’m so sorry we were unable to get here for dinner or to let you know. We fully intended to get here, but we went out auto riding in the country and were detained by a breakdown. When we arrived home and saw we were so late, we took our dinner at the cafe before coming. I hope our delay hasn’t put you to any great anxiety. Since we couldn’t get here for dinner, we thought we would call for a while, rather than disappoint you completely. _Exit butler with wraps._ MRS. BENSON We’re very glad you did, won’t you be seated? MR. BENSON Indeed we’re glad you have come. Anyone is welcome at our house any time. Don’t you know people aren’t so sociable as they uster be. Why, when I was a boy we either called on some of our neighbors, or they called on us every night of the week during the winter months. I’ve been noticin’ as how the town folks don’t call at all unless they’re invited. By jinks, come to think about it, you folks are the first to come since we’ve been here, exceptin’ one of our neighbors from the farm. _Begins slowly to remove shoes._ MR. ASTERBILT