HARRIET. I? I haven't any feelings. It isn't my business to love
anybody.
HETTY. Then why need you object to calling him my husband?
HARRIET. I resent your appropriation of a man who is managed only
through the cleverness of my artifice.
HETTY. You may be clever enough to deceive him, Harriet, but I am still
the one who suffers. I can't forget he is my husband. I can't forget
that I might have married John Caldwell.
HARRIET. How foolish of you to remember John, just because we met his
wife by chance.
HETTY. That's what I want to talk to you about. She may be here at any
moment. I want to advise you about what to say to her this afternoon.
HARRIET. By all means tell me now and don't interrupt while she is here.
You have a most annoying habit of talking to me when people are present.
Sometimes it is all I can do to keep my poise and appear not to be
listening to you.
HETTY. Impress her.
HARRIET. Hetty, dear, is it not my custom to impress people?
HETTY. I hate her.
HARRIET. I can't let her see that.
HETTY. I hate her because she married John.
HARRIET. Only after you had refused him.
HETTY [turning on HARRIET]. Was it my fault that I refused him?
HARRIET. That's right, blame me.
HETTY. It was your fault. You told me he was too poor and never would be
able to do anything in painting. Look at him now, known in Europe, just
returned from eight years in Paris, famous.
HARRIET. It was too poor a gamble at the time. It was much safer to
accept Charles's money and position.
HETTY. And then John married Margaret within the year.
HARRIET. Out of spite.
HETTY. Freckled, gawky-looking thing she was, too.
HARRIET [a little sadly]. Europe improved her. She was stunning the
other morning.
HETTY. Make her jealous to-day.