THE CLIMBERS



                  [LEONARD bows and goes out.

  CLARA. I'm awfully sorry, Blanche, I honestly

am; but I think you'll have only yourself to blame

if you don't strike out now and throw Dick over.

Good-by!

        [MRS. HUNTER and CLARA go out Right.

  BLANCHE. I wish they wouldn't advise me to do

what I want to.

  RUTH. Ah!

  BLANCHE. But who do I harm by it Surely,

it wouldn't be for his good to be brought up under

the influence of his father!

  RUTH. If he saw you patiently bearing a cross

for the sake of duty, can you imagine a stronger

force for good on the boy's character What an

example you will set him! What a chance for a

mother!

  BLANCHE. But my own life, my own happiness



682