h pleasure.

MRS. VERNON. Where you goin', Kate?

KATE. Only outside the door--[_At door_.] to the corner.

MRS. VERNON. [_Doubtingly_.] Well--[_Going centre. Exeunt_, TRAVERS
_and_ KATE--_positively._] Well, I don't care who hears me--[_Looks
cautiously out_.] I don't like his looks.

_Enter_ JOE.

JOE. Ma!

MRS. VERNON. What?

JOE. Ain't you got some soup-meat or sompthin' you kin spare that
little ki-yoodle?

MRS. VERNON. Well, if his leg's broke, he better not have no meat or
stuff that'd feed a fever. If yew kin drink your second cup in the
mornin' without milk, I kin spare him some o' that.

JOE. All right.

MRS. VERNON. [_Scolding_.] An' the milk's hangin' in the cistern.
[_Takes cup from back wall_.] Plague take it! Woman's work's never
done. [_Exit_.

JOE. [_After a moment_.] I s'pose I could a got it. [_Calls_.]
Lizbeth!

LIZBETH. [_Off_.] Yes. [_Enters_.

JOE. [_Scolding_.] Why don't you help your poor ma? She's had to go
after the milk.

LIZBETH. [_Angrily meeting_ JOE'S _tone_.] Well, I didn't know it.
[_Exit after_ MRS. VERNON.

JOE. [_Getting alarm-clock. Calls into shop_.] Dave!

DAVE. [_Off_.] Yes.

JOE. [_At door_.] You don't need him, Jim?

JIM. [_Off_.] No.

JOE. [_Leaving door_.] See here--[_Enter_ DAVE.] Kin you run one o'
these machines?

DAVE. I allow I kin.

JOE. [_Hands clock to_ DAVE.] Then set her an hour earlier, and have
things fired up in the mornin'. We've got to weld that Louisiana tire,
I reckon, afore breakfast.

DAVE. All right.

_Enter_ MRS. VERNON _and_ LIZBETH.

MRS. VERNON. Here, Joe--[_Hands cup_.] Git to feedin' it. I'll git
attached to it, an' we've got too many dogs now.

JOE. [_Caressing her with rough push on the face_.] I know you,
ma--you're the motherin'est old hen in Pike--[_Going_.] If he don't
drink this I'll drowned him.

MRS. VERNON. [_To street door_.] Now, Lizbeth, I don't see nothin' of
Kate. She's out there with Travers--you an' Dave kind o' hang round
like you was with 'em.

LIZBETH. Come, Dave. [_To_ MRS. VERNON.] Jes' not let on?

MRS. VERNON. Yes--purtendin'.

_Exit_ LIZBETH.

DAVE. All right. [_Exit after_ LIZBETH.

JOE. [_Entering door_.] Jes' look at him, ma--he's got his eyebrows in
it.

MRS. VERNON. [_At door; leans on_ JOE'S _shoulder_.] The darlin'--jes'
to think, Joe, if one of our children was sufferin'--

JOE. [_With unction_.] You bet.

MRS. VERNON. [_Earnestly calls_.] Don't let him splash it on y