en
years ago I went to bed a young girl and I woke with this cap on my
head. It is not fair. This is not me, Susan, this is some other
person, I want to be myself.

MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, Phoebe, you who have always been so patient!

PHOEBE. Oh no, not always. If you only knew how I have rebelled at
times, you would turn from me in horror. Susan, I have a picture of
myself as I used to be; I sometimes look at it. I sometimes kiss it,
and say, 'Poor girl, they have all forgotten you. But I remember.'

MISS SUSAN. I cannot recall it.

PHOEBE. I keep it locked away in my room. Would you like to see it?
I shall bring it down. My room! Oh, Susan, it is there that the
Phoebe you think so patient has the hardest fight with herself, for
there I have seemed to hear and see the Phoebe of whom this (_looking
at herself_) is but an image in a distorted glass. I have heard her
singing as if she thought she was still a girl. I have heard her
weeping; perhaps it was only I who was weeping; but she seemed to cry
to me, 'Let me out of this prison, give me back the years you have
taken from me. Oh, where are my pretty curls?' she cried. 'Where is
my youth, my youth.'

(_She goes out, leaving_ MISS SUSAN _woeful. Presently_ SUSAN _takes
up the algebra book and reads._)

MISS SUSAN. 'A stroke B multiplied by B stroke C equal AB stroke a
little 2; stroke AC add BC. "Poor Phoebe!" Multiply by C stroke A and
we get-- Poor Phoebe! C a B stroke a little 2 stroke AC little 2 add
BC. "Oh, I cannot believe it!" Stroke a little 2 again, add AB little
2 add a little 2C stroke a BC.' ...

(PATTY _comes in with the lamp._)

PATTY. Hurting your poor eyes reading without a lamp. Think shame,
Miss Susan.

MISS SUSAN (_with spirit_). Patty, I will not be dictated to. (PATTY
_looks out at window._) Draw the curtains at once. I cannot allow you
to stand gazing at the foolish creatures who crowd to a ball.

PATTY (_closing curtains_). I am not gazing at them, ma'am; I am
gazing at my sweetheart.

MISS SUSAN. Your sweetheart? (_Softly._) I did not know you had one.

PATTY. Nor have I, ma'am, as yet. But I looks out, and thinks I to
myself, at any moment he may turn the corner. I ha' been looking out
at windows waiting for him to oblige by turning the corner this fifteen
years.

MISS SUSAN. Fifteen years, and still you are hopeful?

PATTY. There is not a more hopeful woman in all the king's dominions.

MIS