Clara. (_Crosses to R.c. Allen follows._) Ah, you are a dear good fellow, Allen, and I won’t tease you any more. And you will join the company, won’t you? And then you shall get me that dear little diamond bracelet that we looked at--do you remember it?--and you shall put it on yourself. (_Allen by her side r. All this is said with every trick of fascination at her command, and now she playfully holds up her arm, from which the loose sleeve falls back, close to his face._) On that. (_He drops on his knees and kisses her arm_). (_Enter Deb. c._) Clara. (_Snatches her arm away._) Deborah! (_Allen rises._) Allen. (_Turning and seeing her, goes to fireplace R._) Hullo, thee’s back soon. Deb. Yes, aunt met Mrs. Clouter just outside, so I pleaded a headache and left them. (_Throwing off bonnet and shawl on chair and coming down._) Don’t you think Col. Dexter would like a game of billiards, Allen? Allen. No, he’s all right--he’s smoking. (_Crosses l._) Deb. Oh, I’m sure he’d like a game (_Clara motions Allen away_), and I want to have a chat with Miss Dexter. We shan’t see each other after this morning for goodness knows how long. Allen. (_Moving away l._) Ah, I understand now. (_Goes up stage l._) I’ll go, and you can tell each other about your new frocks. (_Exit Allen l., Clara goes c., Deb. l.c. and Clara look at each other._) Deb. (_After a pause._) I came back to see you, Miss Dexter, before you left. Clara. (_Coldly._) It was very good of you. Deb. I want to know whether you are playing the fool with Allen, or whether you mean to marry him. Clara. I have heard of that sort of question being put to a gentleman under certain circumstances. (_Crosses to L._) Deb. It is put to the person who is supposed to be acting dishonorably--I put it to you. Clara. I am afraid I have been mixing things up. I was under the impression that it was the stout lady, your aunt, that was Mr. Rollitt’s mother. Deb. You are very smart, Miss Dexter, and I am not, but this is no game--it is earnest. Clara. Then I would suggest to you that your cousin is quite capable of taking care of himself. Deb. Yes, against a man; but not against the woman he loves and trusts. It is his love that enables you to deceive him. Clara. (_Crossing to R.--sits on chair near table r._) You seem to have made up your mind, my dear child, that I am deceiving him. Deb. (_l.c._) I know that he has asked you to become his wife, and I know that although you have let him think it is all right, you have never given him a real answer. I know that you accept his attentions, his invitations, his presents. (_Noticing the book and notes on the table, points to them._) And all the while you are having whispered interviews and secret meetings with another man. Clara. (_Coolly counting notes._) If you are thinking of the conversation you were trying to listen to just now--