the awful scrap I’d had with Pa—and I was darned cut up about that.
Ruth—Andy! Please! Don’t!
Andrew—Let me finish now that I’ve started. It’ll help clear things up. I don’t want you to think once a fool always a fool, and be upset all the time I’m here on my fool account. I want you to believe I put all that silly nonsense back of me a long time ago—and now—it seems—well—as if you’d always been my sister, that’s what, Ruth.
Ruth—[At the end of her endurance—laughing hysterically.] For God’s sake, Andy—won’t you please stop talking! [She again hides her face in her hands, her bowed shoulders trembling.]
Andrew—[Ruefully.] Seem’s if I put my foot in it whenever I open my mouth today. Rob shut me up with almost them same words when I tried speaking to him about it.
Ruth—[Fiercely.] You told him—what you’ve told me?
Andrew—[Astounded.] Why sure! Why not?
Ruth—[Shuddering.] Oh, my God!
Andrew—[Alarmed.] Why? Shouldn’t I have?
Ruth—[Hysterically.] Oh, I don’t care what you do! I don’t care! Leave me alone! [Andrew gets up and walks down the hill to the left, embarrassed, hurt, and greatly puzzled by her behavior.]
Andrew—[After a pause—pointing down the hill.] Hello! Here they come back—and the Captain’s with them. How’d he come to get back so soon,
