_
STERLING. [_Moved._] My boy ill--why, I can't--I can't--
WARDEN. "Can't" what?
STERLING. How can I go away?
WARDEN. Surely you won't let business take you away from your boy who
may be dying.
STERLING. No! I won't go! I'll face it out! I can't leave my boy like
this--
RUTH. [_Coming to_ STERLING.] I'm going to take these women away; tell
Blanche not to give them a thought. Their evening up to now has been
charming.
[_During_ RUTH'S _speech_, WARDEN _has spoken aside with_ MASON.
WARDEN. [_Aside to_ MASON.] Don't let Miss Hunter go.
RUTH. [_To the other guests._] Come to the drawing-room.
MRS. HUNTER. I was crazy to see what was in my stocking.
[_All pass out talking, expressing conventional sympathy on account of_
RICHARD, _but evidently resenting the breaking up of the party._
STERLING _and_ WARDEN _are left alone in the room._ STERLING _moves to
go up to back;_ WARDEN _interrupts him._
WARDEN. [_To_ STERLING.] Where are you going?
STERLING. To my boy and my wife.
WARDEN. Wait a minute; I want to speak to you.
STERLING. Speak to me later; I can't wait now.
BLANCHE. [_Off stage, at back, excitedly._] Jordan! [_She enters,
excited, half hysterical._] Jordan! Where is Jordan? It was a lie! What
did he mean? Richard is sleeping sweetly.
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