MRS. LAWER. But, of course, we who have known you for all these years
will be as silent as the tomb ... you can depend upon us, lean upon us,
call upon us. We shall comfort you and be your support in this hour of
greatest need.
MRS. WARREN. Why ... why, what do you mean?
MRS. LAWER. You really mean to say you do not know about Betty and
Doctor Hunter? Oh, dear!
MRS. WARREN. But Betty did nothing so very, very improper.
MRS. LAWER. Improper! Well, of course, we shall not blame poor Betty,
she is still very young, but we do blame that wicked Doctor Hunter.
Why, he is a married man, my dear ... and oldish. He should have known
better.
MRS. WARREN. But Betty only walked with him.
MRS. LAWER. Only walked with him? I was told that he sends flowers to
Betty ... and flowers have secret meanings. To say the least, they are
sentimental. And Mrs. Lawty told Mrs. Romney that she heard Betty say
with her own lips that Doctor Hunter was a conversationalist. I believe
that means a person with very free ideas about personal matters ...
love, and that sort of thing.
MRS. WARREN. No, indeed ... it simply means that he is a very
interesting talker.
MRS. LAWER. That's just it, Mrs. Warren. What does he find so much to
talk about? I have never met him, but from things I have heard I believe
he must be a dreadful person. Most unwholesome, so to speak, to the
society--the very refined society of Northampton, where for the last
forty years we have all lived in such perfect peace and understanding.
MRS. WARREN. Oh, that this should have come upon me!
MRS. LAWER. Your misfortune is our misfortune, Mrs. Warren. We shall do
everything we can to keep this dreadful scandal----
MRS. WARREN. Scandal! Has it--has it gone as far as that?
MRS. LAWER. Let us say, indiscretion. As I was saying, we shall keep it
locked in our hearts, no word of it will ever reach foreign ears. Of
course I really know very little of the whole affair, but I felt that my
first duty was to come to you.
(_CLARA enters._)
MRS. WARREN. Yes, Clara?
CLARA. I can't find her, ma'am.
MRS. WARREN. Oh, do find her, Clara. I must ... I must see her at once.
(_The knocker sounds._) Who can that be? Clara ... Clara, see who is at
the door.
(_CLARA goes out._)
MRS. LAWER. Oh, Mrs. Warren, trust me in everything ... are you sure
Betty has always been what she seemed ... I mean----
MRS. WARREN. Mrs. Lawer, do you mean to say that Betty ... Betty Warren
... my daughter----
MRS. LAWER. My dear, we must face the truth ... we must prepare
ourselves for the worst ... we must----
(_CLARA enters._)
CLARA. It's them "Helpin' Hand" ladies, if you please, ma'am. The lot of
'em.
MRS. WARREN. Bring them in, Clara ... have them come right in. Oh! Oh!
MRS. LAWER. You must be calm, my dear ... perfectly calm.
(_MRS. LAWTY, MRS. PICKERING, and MRS. ROMNEY enter from the
hall._)
MRS. WARREN. Oh, my dear ladies. Do ... do be seated.
(_They all sit down quietly. There is a long pause. MRS. PICKERING
moves restlessly._)
MRS. PICKERING. Mrs. Warren, we have adjourned our meeting of the
"Helping Hand" until next week in order to come to you ... the poor,
dear natives of the South Sea Islands will have to wait another week for
their napkins and tablecloths.
MRS. ROMNEY. A very short time ... considering they have not had such
necessary luxuries for several centuries.
MRS. LAWTY. Still, it was with some feeling of ... of regret that we
left our work of altruism unfinished, until next week.
MRS. PICKERING. But we feel that our first duty is at home. Yes, we all
felt that our duty was toward you, Mrs. Warren, at present.
MRS. WARREN. Ladies, I am overcome with your kindness.
MRS. PICKERING. We shall now consider ... consider ways and means of--of
helping you, Mrs. Warren, out of this unspeakable--or, let us say,
embarrassing situation.
MRS. LAWTY. Let us rather call it ... unfortunate situation.