The Benefit of the Doubt; a Comedy in Three Acts

The Scene represents a drawing-room in MRS. EMPTAGE’S house near Regent’s Park. At the back are double doors, opening on to a further drawing-room, and these face a window, over which the blinds are drawn, to moderate the glare of the sun, which nevertheless streams through them, for it is a fine afternoon in early summer. The rooms are furnished and decorated in a costly and tasteful fashion.

MRS. EMPTAGE is reclining upon the settee, her eyes closed, a bottle of smelling-salts in her hand. JUSTINA is pacing the room between the door and the window. MRS. EMPTAGE is a pretty, carefully-preserved woman with dyed hair and “touched-up” face: she is old enough to be the mother of a daughter of nine-and-twenty. JUSTINA is of that age, good-looking, “smart,” and already somewhat passé. Both are fashionably but sombrely dressed.

MRS. EMPTAGE.

Tell me the time once more, ’Tina.

JUSTINA.

[_Referring to her watch._] A few minutes to four, mother.

MRS. EMPTAGE.

Does the judge of the Divorce Court invariably rise at four o’clock?

JUSTINA.

He may sit a little later under special circumstances.

MRS. EMPTAGE.

To have done with a case if it’s very near its end?

JUSTINA.

So I’m told.

MRS. EMPTAGE.

They must all be here soon, whether that happens or not.

JUSTINA.

Yes, yes. Oh, but if the confounded thing should last into another day!

MRS. EMPTAGE.

A third day’s suspense will kill me.

JUSTINA.

Ma, I suppose, really, we ought to be reading our Church Services or something.

MRS. EMPTAGE.

I can’t concentrate my attention in the least; I have been glancing at “The Yellow Book.”

JUSTINA.

Hark! what’s that?

MRS. EMPTAGE.

I don’t hear anything.

JUSTINA.

It is somebody!

[HORTON, a manservant, appears.

HORTON.

Mrs. Quinton Twelves.

MRS. EMPTAGE struggles to her feet as MRS. QUINTON TWELVES enters. HORTON retires. KATE TWELVES is a lively, handsome young woman, brightly dressed.

JUSTINA AND MRS. EMPTAGE.

[_Throwing themselves upon her._] Kitty!

MRS. QUINTON TWELVES.

[_Kissing them._] Well, well, well, well!

JUSTINA.

Is it over?