class="center">Dilly

Salesmanship, mother, begins with a willingness to show goods.

Mrs. Gilliam

Dilly! Pull down your skirt!

Dilly

I can't! That's all there is; there isn't any more!

Mrs. Thornbury

[Holding up two dolls]: What are we going to do with these?

Mrs. Gilliam

[Despairingly surveying the profusion]: Goodness knows!

Mrs. Thornbury

I've two engagements before dinner, and I've got to go home and undress for the opera.

Dilly

I gave up a dance for this.

Mrs. Gilliam

A dance at this hour?

Dilly

People dance at any hour, mother.

Mrs. Gilliam

What do they do it for?

Dilly

For something to do. [To Mrs. Thornbury] We're young and we've got to have life and gaiety; haven't we, Mrs. Thornbury?

Mrs. Thornbury

We've got to have something. I don't know what it is, but I know we have to keep going to get it.

Mrs. Gilliam

But you all waste your time so dreadfully. I'm busy, too, but my life is given to the service of others.

Dilly

What could be sweeter?

Mrs. Gilliam

Dilly! Nobody knows better than you that I've never had a selfish thought! Mr. Gilliam——

Dilly

Of the Gilliam Groceries, Inc.

Mrs. Gilliam

Mr. Gilliam says I'm far too good!

Mrs. Thornbury

We agree with him, Mrs. Gilliam.

Mrs. Gilliam

Only yesterday I gave five hundred pounds of coffee and sugar to the Salvation Army!

Dilly

And today father jumped the price of sugar to thirty-two cents!

Mrs. Thornbury

Now—Dilly!

Mrs. Gilliam

[With rising emotion]: One gets precious little reward.... I can tell you! I sent helpful thoughts from the Bible to all Mr. Gilliam's employes! Now they're on strike, and the man that got "Be content with your wages" is leading the strikers!... Where's the Star of Bethlehem? [To conceal her agitation, she has turned to the box.]

Dilly

It doesn't work, mother.

Mrs. Thornbury

Are those your husband's men—on the front steps?

Mrs. Gilliam

Oh, no! Those are people from the sweat shops! They're starving, I hear, and Mr. Gilliam says it serves 'em right! [Bringing forth a small case] What's the matter with the Star of Bethlehem?

Dilly

Oh, the usual! Whoever heard of the lights working on a Christmas Tree?

Mrs. Gilliam

[Holding up the star]: But this must work. Mrs. Tice had it made to order—of Parisian diamonds. It cost a hundred dollars.