|
<![CDATA[ goodness sake let's at
_least_ have some light. There's no use having it as dark inside as out.
(_Everitt goes about lighting all the burners_)
HAROLD
Hear the rain, rain, rain!
WALTER
It _is_ coming down. I never heard it make so much noise.
MRS. EVERITT
That's because city people never have a roof over their heads!
ALICE
Why, mother, the rain makes your voice vibrate like--
WALTER
Like a fire engine. I stood right by one, once.
MRS. EVERITT
Come, Harold, sit on my lap.
EVERITT
Shall I close the blinds?
ALICE
Yes.
MRS. EVERITT
No, don't. Nobody's about on a night like this.
HAROLD
Wish I could see rain. What it like?
EVERITT
What's what like?
HAROLD
Rain--rain.
ALICE
Like shower baths.
HAROLD
Oh. Mother, tell me story about rain. I _like_ rain! (_Everitt feels about
for his cigar case. A letter falls from his pocket which he picks up
hurriedly_)
EVERITT
I'm going for a cigar.
WALTER
It's like being in a submarine!
HAROLD
Mother, tell me story!
MRS. EVERITT
Once upon a time--
WALTER
I'm going out for a minute.
ALICE
I wish....
HAROLD
Once on a time!
MRS. EVERITT
Oh, yes. Once there was a little girl who lived in the country.
HAROLD
What country?
MRS. EVERITT
A country something like this. She and her mother lived in a little house
beside a brook. The little girl loved to listen to the brook outside her
window at night. One day she asked her mother where the brook went to. She
didn't want _her_ brook to run away. And what do you suppose her mother
said?
HAROLD
What her mother say?
MRS. EVERITT
She said the brook didn't really run away, when it got out of sight across
the fields it turned into rain. So then the little girl was glad whenever
it rained, because she knew it was the little brook coming back to her.
HAROLD
Oh. And is _this_ rain the brook coming back? The little girl's brook?
MRS. EVERITT
The little girl grew up and went away. But it's _some_ little girl's
brook. (_Walter comes in with sticks_)
WALTER
I thought we'd have a fire.
ALICE
Good! Make a big one.
MRS. EVERITT
Now, Harold, mother is going to put you in a nice bed, right under the
roof where the rain-drops whisper and sing. (_She takes Harold out_)
ALICE
Where'd father go?
WALTER
He said he wanted a cigar.
ALICE
He's been a long time.
WALTER
Perhaps he's gone to look at]]>
|