He said he wouldn’t “listen to one of heaven’s highest angels gettin’ talked against by a lot o’ women!” I’m sure they heard him in the next suite. (_She rises._) I suppose you’d better go and see where he slipped out to, Jessie. Of course, he’ll try to find _her_ again as soon as he can. JESSIE (_dropping into a chair_) I played three times round the course. Do you mind if I just sit here a while and rest? MRS. BRIGGS Then why don’t you go to your room? JESSIE (_laughing feebly_) I’m just too tired. I will in a minute. (_With a gesture toward the left entrance._) Hadn’t you better-- MRS. BRIGGS Keep her in sight? Yes. That’s easier than trying to keep _him_ in sight. You’re going up to your room right away, aren’t you? JESSIE Yes, in only a minute. I really think you’d better go, Mamma. He might-- MRS. BRIGGS No, I’ll see to that! (_She goes out._) (_Jessie stares after her for a moment, glances at a wrist watch, then rises and looks down the corridor beyond the entrance at the right. She appears to derive some satisfaction from what she sees there, returns to her chair and sits in a carefully graceful attitude, her expression demure. A moment later a young man--he is about twenty-five--comes in rather nervously from the right. He pauses near the entrance._) THE YOUNG MAN You! JESSIE (_softly_) You! THE YOUNG MAN Is your mother-- JESSIE She’s gone. THE YOUNG MAN (_nervously advancing_) I--I-- JESSIE I was afraid maybe we couldn’t have this nook to ourselves, after all. My absurd little brother was in here, hanging about that dreadful Mrs. Curtis, and I was afraid they wouldn’t go away; but Mamma scared ’em both off providentially. THE YOUNG MAN (_moving a chair close to hers and sitting_) And so we’re alone! (_He speaks with a sentimental hushedness._) All alone! JESSIE All alone, Rupert! This is the only place in the hotel where you _can_ be by yourself a while. That’s why I said to meet here. RUPERT (_nervously_) You don’t think your mother’ll be back for a while? JESSIE No; she won’t. RUPERT She hasn’t found out I’ve come, has she? JESSIE She hasn’t the remotest idea, thank heaven! Nobody dreams you’re within hundreds of miles of here. That’s one advantage of a big hotel. RUPERT Darling-- JESSIE Yes, darling? (_The settee moves slightly at this, but it is behind them and they do not see it._) RUPERT I can’t understand why your mother dislikes me so. JESSIE (_gravely_) Well, I suppose her feeling about you is--well, she _says_ it’s because you’re rather poor and I’m--not. RUPERT But what makes her think I care about you because you’re not? JESSIE Well-- RUPERT (_leaning toward her and lowering his voice_) Darling, there’s something I want to ask you-- JESSIE (_leaning toward him and almost whispering_) Yes, dearest, what is it?