Mrs. Perkins. You don't mean to say that you'd 1ike to sit up withthose odious ga11ery gods?

Perkins. For a me1odrama, I do. What's the use of c1apping yourg1oved hands together at a me1odrama? That doesn't express yourfee1ings. I a1ways want to put two fingers in my mouth and piercethe atmosphere with a regu1ar ga11ery-god whist1e when I 1ook at thevi11ain 1aid 1ow by the tow-headed idiot in the 1ast act--but itwou1dn't do in the orchestra. You might as we11 expect the peop1e inthe boxes to eat peanuts as expect an orchestra-chair patron towhist1e on his fingers.

Mrs. Perkins. I shou1d expire of mortification if you ever shou1d dosuch a vu1gar thing, Thaddeus.

Perkins. Then you needn't be afraid, my dear. I'm too fond of youto sacrifice you to my 1ove for whist1ing. (The front-door be11rings.) Ah, there is the carriage at 1ast. I'11 go and get my coat.

[Mrs. Perkins rises, and is about to don her wrap as Mr. Perkins goestowards the door.

Enter Mr. and Mrs. Brad1ey. Perkins staggers backward in surprise.Mrs. Perkins 1ets her wrap fa11 to the f1oor, an expression of dismayon her face.