] No news from the steamer, my dear?
MRS. MASTERSON. None.
REMSON. Anything further, madam?
MRS. MASTERSON. Nothing.
[Exit REMSON.]
DR. MASTERSON. It'll be too bad if Oceana has to spend this evening on
the steamer.
MRS. MASTERSON. Have you taken to calling her by that ridiculous name
also?
DR. MASTERSON. Surely she has a right to select her name!
MRS. MASTERSON. I was present when she was christened; and so were
you, Quincy. For ME she will remain Anna Talbot until the day she
dies.
DR. MASTERSON. Anna or Oceana . . . there's not much difference, it
seems. [Takes paper and sits by window; they do not see ETHEL.]
Weren't Letitia and Henry to be here?
MRS. MASTERSON. Letitia was . . . but she's never on time. There's the
bell now. [Looks at photograph.] Humph! So Ethel's had it framed! I
declare . . . people ought not to be shown a photograph like that . .
. it's not decent.
DR. MASTERSON. My dear! It's the South Sea Islands!
MRS. MASTERSON. [Severely.] This is Back Bay. Oh! Letitia!
LETITIA. [Enters; aged about twenty-eight, prim and decorous,
Patterned after her mother; black street costume, with furs.] No news
from the steamer, it seems! Dear me, such weather!
MRS. MASTERSON. You didn't walk, I hope?
LETITIA. No, but even getting into the stores! I'm exhausted.
DR. MASTERSON. [Looking from paper.] Henry coming?
LETITIA. He said he might drop in. He's curious to see the lady.
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