Hamilton

is seen arranging the cloak at her head and opening the street-door; they exit laughing as⁠ ⁠…

The Curtain Falls.

Act III

Scene.⁠—Same as in Act II. In October of the same year. There are flowers about, accentuating the feeling that the woman of the house has come back. The furniture is all placed as at the rise of the second act. On the mantelpiece up stage end is a small vase of autumn flowers. On small table above fireplace large bowl of autumn flowers. On bookcase center at back a vase of goldenrod, on bookcase left, a small vase with yellow flowers and on Hamilton’s table a glass bowl of violets. Washington’s chair is placed a little further to left. The chair against wall below door left is removed and placed at left of Hamilton’s table. The small chair back of sofa is placed under small table at window on right. A chair similar to the other chairs in the room is placed back of sofa. There are fresh lace curtains at windows.

	Betsy is discovered on steps at center window, hanging last pair of curtains, assisted by Zekiel, who stands left of steps. She is in the highest of spirits and laughs at Zekiel’s fears for her safety.
Betsy	Laughing. Now, Zekiel, catch these curtains when I drop them.
Zekiel	I certainly do wish you’d let me come up them steps ’stead ob you, Mis’ Betsy.
Betsy	Why, you dear old darky, you stay where you’re safe.
Zekiel	Yo’ve come all cross de ocean an’ yo’ still alive. Don’ want nothin’ to happen to yo’ no sooner’n yo’ get on tere firm. When yo’ come home las’ night, I cut’ny was glad to see yo’⁠—an’ Mis’ Angelica, too⁠—and Mars’ Ham’ton has been jumpin’ about lak a schoolboy evah since.
Betsy	Now⁠—catch! Drops curtain. And remember, Zekiel, when you get married and have a house of your own⁠—
Zekiel	Yapping. Me git married! Ha, ha! Yo’ sure is amusin’. Guess if I evah get mar’d, I won’t have nothin’ ob ma own. Laughs.
Betsy	Remember if you have lace curtains⁠ ⁠… you have clean ones.
	Enter Angelica Church in street clothes, door up R., apparently coming from the street.
Angelica	Why, Betsy Hamilton! Closing door and to C. I called to see if you were up! I see you are!
Betsy	Up on the ladder. Angelica Church, the next time you have scarlet fever, I hope you’ll have it in your own country and not drag me over to England to nurse you. The state of this house is beyond belief. Mounting another step.
Angelica	Betsy, if you’re going to mount any higher, you’d better let me come and hold those steps.
	Goes to steps R. of them.
Betsy	Now, Zekiel, take those curtains and give them to Mary for the wash.
Zekiel	I will do that. Mis’ Betsy. Moving to door L. I cut’ny do hope Mars’ Ham’ton don’ come in an’ fine yo’ riskin’ yo’ life yo’ fust day home.
	Exit Zekiel, L.
Angelica	How you can do it, I don’t know. I’ve felt the motion of the boat all night. I wouldn’t do that if you paid me.
Betsy	If I could afford to pay you, Angelica, I’d employ somebody who knew how.
	Angelica shakes steps in retaliation. Betsy screams.
Angelica	Coming down C. a little. Where’s Amiable?
Betsy	Angelica, I don’t think it’s fair that you should have a pet name for my husband.
Angelica	Well, I’ve always called him Amiable because it fits him so much better than Alexander. Where is he?
Betsy	I sent him to walk three times around the Common, while I took down those curtains.
Angelica	He’s a darling. I wonder you can bear to let him out of your sight.
Betsy	Sitting on top step. I can’t, dear, I can’t. Oh, I’m so glad to be home! But when I came in here this morning I couldn’t see anything but those dirty lace curtains, so I had to send him out.
Angelica	Laughing. And then, it’ll be nice to see him come in again, won’t it? Sitting on end of sofa.
Betsy	How do you think he looks?
Angelica	Hale and hearty.
Betsy	Do you? I thought he was looking quite thin and pale.
Angelica	Oh, because you’ve been away, of course. Well, I’m very sorry, but I think he looks fat and well.
Betsy	I ought not to have left him.
Angelica	You’re terribly in love, aren’t you?
	Coming up to ladder.
Betsy	I am, Angelica, and I can’t get over it. You know Alexander is the most wonderful man in the world.
Angelica	Back to C. Is he? What about my husband?
Betsy	Oh, well, John Church is a dear old thing, but you couldn’t possibly be terribly in love with him, could you? Besides he’s an Englishman.
Angelica	What do you mean, Betsy Hamilton? I am terribly in love with him.
Betsy	I know you are, dear, but you couldn’t possibly love John as I love Alexander.
Angelica	And why not?
Betsy	Well, he’s a dear, but he has no brains⁠—now has he?
Angelica	He has very good brains for an Englishman. Moves in front of sofa, removing shawl. Besides he’s easier to manage that way.
	Drops shawl on head of sofa.
Betsy	He’s very nice and he’s very rich, but he isn’t Alexander.
Angelica	Well, as I prefer having a husband to myself, it’s just as well he isn’t. They both laugh. Angelica sits end of sofa. Betsy resumes her work. Betsy, it’s sheer nonsense, your going on doing all the work in this house as you do.
Betsy	I like it.
Angelica	You don’t like it, and you know it. A daughter of General Schuyler doing this kind of work⁠—it isn’t right.
Betsy	Well, you know Alexander’s salary, don’t you? Three thousand dollars a year.
Angelica	Why don’t you let father make you a decent allowance?
Betsy	Alexander would rather die than take a