I can no longer stand being suspected of being a wicked woman, while I have nothing to show for it. I can’t stand it.

She crawls under rail into window.

MINNIE:

Why, no one would dream of suspecting you—

MRS. MOLLOY:

On her knees, she looks over the rail.

Minnie, you’re a fool. All millineresses are suspected of being wicked women. Why, half the time all those women come into the shop merely to look at me.

MINNIE:

Oh!

MRS. MOLLOY:

They enjoy the suspicion. But they aren’t certain. If they were certain I was a wicked woman, they wouldn’t put foot in this place again. Do I go to restaurants? No, it would be bad for business. Do I go to balls, or theaters, or operas? No, it would be bad for business. The only men I ever meet are feather merchants.

Crawls out of window, but gazes intently into the street.

What are those two young men doing out there on that park bench? Take my word for it, Minnie, either I marry Horace Vandergelder, or I break out of this place like a fire engine. I’ll go to every theater and ball and opera in New York City.

Returns to counter, singing again.

MINNIE:

But Mr. Vandergelder’s not . . .

MRS. MOLLOY:

Speak up, Minnie, I can’t hear you.

MINNIE:

. . . I don’t think he’s attractive.

MRS. MOLLOY:

But what I think he is—and it’s very important—I think he’d make a good fighter.

MINNIE:

Mrs. Molloy!

MRS. MOLLOY:

Take my word for it, Minnie: the best part of married life is the fights. The rest is merely so-so.

MINNIE:

Fingers in ears.

I won’t listen.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Peter Molloy—God rest him!—was a fine arguing man. I pity the woman whose husband slams the door and walks out of the house at the beginning of an argument. Peter Molloy would stand up and fight for hours on end. He’d even throw things, Minnie, and there’s no pleasure to equal that. When I felt tired I’d start a good bloodwarming fight and it’d take ten years off my age; now Horace Vandergelder would put up a good fight; I know it. I’ve a mind to marry him.

MINNIE:

I think they’re just awful, the things you’re saying today.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Well, I’m enjoying them myself, too.

MINNIE:

At the window.

Mrs. Molloy, those two men out in the street—

MRS. MOLLOY:

What?

MINNIE:

Those men. It looks as if they meant to come in here.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Well now, it’s time some men came into this place. I give you the younger one, Minnie.

MINNIE:

Aren’t you terrible!

MRS. MOLLOY sits on center table, while MINNIE takes off her felt overshoes.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Wait till I get my hands on that older one! Mark my words, Minnie, we’ll get an adventure out of this yet. Adventure, adventure! Why does everybody have adventures except me, Minnie? Because I have no spirit, I have no gumption. Minnie, they’re coming in here. Let’s go into the workroom and make them wait for us for a minute.