Rectify the false statements given below from Scene II of the play.
Mrs. Harding was pleased to know that Mary was familiar with her children.
False. Mrs. Harding was not pleased because she has no children, and Mary's insistence that she had seen Mrs. Harding's children embarrassed her.
Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers.
False. Mrs. Shaw said she liked Mrs. Best because she is a nice woman. It was Mary who commented about Mr. Best reading newspapers, not Mrs. Shaw's reason for liking Mrs. Best.
Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable.
False. When Mary criticizes Mrs. Best's blue dress with red coat, Mrs. Harding reveals she often wears the same combination, and Mrs. Shaw quickly says she likes blue dresses and red coats to avoid offending her guest.
Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute.
False. Mary says the dog looks very dirty and that she doesn't like dogs, asking why people keep dogs and why the owner doesn't keep it clean.
Explanation
(2) In Scene II, Mary embarrasses Mrs. Harding by insisting she has seen her children, when Mrs. Harding clarifies she has no children. This creates an awkward moment. (3) Mrs. Shaw simply stated that Mrs. Best is a nice woman and that she likes her. The comment about reading newspapers was made by Mary about Mr. Best, not by Mrs. Shaw about Mrs. Best. (4) Mrs. Shaw quickly agrees that she likes blue dresses and red coats to smooth over Mary's rude comment, especially after Mrs. Harding reveals she wears the same combination. (5) Mary criticizes the dog, calling it dirty and questioning why anyone would want a dog. This creates embarrassment when Mrs. Harding reveals the dog belongs to her.