editors of a dozen newspapers, who'll tell you next morning exactly
why your play fell flat. _(Puts her arms about him.)_ Will, dear,
don't be so impatient. Try to understand what I mean! Such a
frightfully depressing ending--everybody in the play has lost
everything!

_Will._ But that isn't so!

_Peggy._ Jack has lost his wager, and his quarter of a million
dollars--and his home!

_Will._ But see what he's gained.

_Peggy._ What?

_Will._ In the first place wisdom, and in the second a wife.

_Peggy._ Few people in the audience know anything about wisdom, and
everyone of them knows that he could buy a wife for less than a
quarter of a million dollars.

_Will._ That's all very well--for a funny line. But there's many a
man would give that much money to find a noble-hearted and faithful
and loving woman, who would stand by him through all the trials of
his life! I gave up more than a quarter of a million myself, and do
you suppose it ever occurs to me to regret the bargain? Do you
suppose I'd be willing to wipe you and Bill out of existence if I
could get my money back?

_Peggy (lays her hand, on his)._ Will, dear, that's very sweet of