62
CRAIG’S WIFE
Miss Austen
- The week after New Year’s, when Mrs. Littlefield called.
Craig
- What did Harriet do?
Miss Austen
- Nothing—what Harriet always does. It was a little feline subtlety—that would sound too incredible in the ears of a man. But Mrs. Littlefield appreciated it, for all her stupidity. I saw her appreciate it—and you were not appointed. (Craig looks away) And I want to tell you something else that I saw the other day in the city, or rather heard. I was having luncheon at the Colonnade, and two of your old Thursday-night poker crowd came in, and sat at a table within hearing distance of me. And presently a man and his wife came in and sat down at another table. And the wife immediately proceeded to tell the man how he should have sat down; and how he should sit now that he was down, and so on. And I distinctly heard one of your friends say to the other, “Listen to Craig’s wife over here.” (Craig turns his head and looks right into Miss Austen’s eyes. There is a slight pause. Then he crosses in front of her, and continues over to the piano at the left. She moves towards the left also, going up above the table) That is a little straw, Walter, that should show you the way the wind is blowing. Your friends resent being told where they shall sit, and how; so they are avoiding the occasion of it—just as I am going to avoid it. But you cannot avoid it, so you must deal with it.
Craig How? How should I deal with it?
