the engine.

ALICE

Walter, what's the matter with them? Last night....

WALTER

I don't know. I heard them, too. It isn't the first time they have
quarreled.

ALICE

It's terrible!

WALTER

Father's got a rotten temper, lately.

ALICE

I thought she wanted him--

WALTER

She did, but he had no business to get so angry about it.

ALICE

But why did she want to change our plans at the last minute and go into
Connecticut? Everything was arranged to come here.

WALTER.

She said he had arranged it without speaking to her. She said--there's
something about it I don't understand.

ALICE

I don't either. I--(_Mrs. Everitt enters_)

WALTER

Did he go to sleep?

MRS. EVERITT

No. He is talking to the rain. I never heard him say such odd things. I
hated to leave him. It seemed as if he heard voices....

WALTER

Sit down, mother. It's very jolly here.

MRS. EVERITT

Thank you, Walter. How many years since I've enjoyed a real fire, like
this!

WALTER

Oh, there isn't enough wood. Just a minute--(_He goes out_)

ALICE

You look tired.

MRS. EVERITT

I'm all right, dear.

ALICE

No you're not. Why won't you tell me?

MRS. EVERITT

But Alice, there's nothing to tell. I do feel a little tired, but then, I
shall be all right in the morning.

ALICE

I wish--(_Walter enters with more wood_)

WALTER

Well, Alice, are you still thinking about that dance?

ALICE

Why no, I'd forgotten all about it. Who could dance in such a rain? It
would make the music seem artificial. I'm getting tired of boys, too. They
don't really _feel_ things--like rain, and fire.

MRS. EVERITT

What's that noise,--Harold?

WALTER

No. It's the men in the bar room.

MRS. EVERITT

I'm sure it's Harold.

ALICE

I'll go see. (_She goes out_)

WALTER

Mother.

MRS. EVERITT

What, Walter?

WALTER

I must be an awful coward--

MRS. EVERITT

Why, what do you mean?

WALTER

I mean that when I really want something, and ought to say so, I go along
without saying it. I don't mean that I'm _really_ afraid to say it, but I
always feel somehow that other people ought to know what I want, and save
me the trouble of asking it. No, not _trouble_ exactly--but you know what
I mean.

MRS. EVERITT

Yes, Walter, I'm afraid I know exactly what you mean. Lots of us are
cursed with the same instinct. I am, and sometimes I believe your father
is, too. It ought to be that when one sees a thin