_
WARDEN. [_Almost tenderly._] Shall we go inside?
BLANCHE. No, no! Let us stay out in the air; my head would burst in one
of these close little rooms. Have you seen mother?
WARDEN. No, not yet.
BLANCHE. Where is Dick? Did he go to Ryder's?
WARDEN. No, but I have some good news to tell you all the same--Ryder
has promised silence.
BLANCHE. [_With tremendous relief._] Oh! that's too good, too good to be
true! To whom did he promise?
WARDEN. I want you not to ask me that.
BLANCHE. I can guess, it was--
WARDEN. [_Lying._] No, it was--_Mason_.
BLANCHE. [_Doubting him._] Mr. Mason?
WARDEN. And I've more good news for you, Mrs. Sterling--the _Godesbys_,
too; _they_ will be silent.
BLANCHE. You're sure?
WARDEN. We have their word!
BLANCHE. [_Pointedly._] Mr. Mason again?--
[WARDEN _bows his head in assent._] He was _here_?
WARDEN. Some time ago, but only for a minute. He didn't stay; he went to
find your husband.
BLANCHE. But the _Godesbys_? I just met them now on the road going back.
How could Mr. Mason, if he didn't stay--[WARDEN _is embarrassed, and is
silent, searching a way out of it._] Oh, no! no! it wasn't Mr. Mason! I
see the whole thing clearly. Dick was too great a coward, and _you_ did
it! It was _you_ who won over Ryder! It was _you_ who persuaded the
Godesbys!--
[WARDEN _shakes his head and makes a movement to deny it.
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