4THE CLIMBERS



  BLANCHE. I don't know yet, mother.

  MRS. HUNTER. Don't know Absolute divorce

- no legal separation! [To RUTH.] We're stay-

ing at the Waldorf.

        [BLANCHE sits discouragedly on the sofa.

  RUTH. [Sitting beside her.] I shall advise

against, and do everything in my power to prevent,

Blanche's getting a divorce!

  MRS. HUNTER. You don't mean to say you'll

carry those ridiculous notions of yours into prac-

tice  - now that a scandal has come into our very

family 

  RUTH. Oh, I know selfish, cynical, and worldly

people won't agree with me, and I pity and sym-

pathize with Blanche from the bottom of my

heart.  [Taking and holding BLANCHE'S hand.]

But I want her not to decide anything now; wait

till the first blows over, and then - well, then I



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