I s’pose he is. [She puts another stick in the stove.] This is the last of the wood in the pile. I don’t know who’ll cut more now that Jake’s left. [She sighs and walks to the window in the rear, left, pulls the curtains aside, and looks out.] It’s getting grey out. It’ll be light soon and we can put out that lamp. [She comes back to the stove.] Looks like it’d be a nice day. [She stretches out her hands to warm them.] Must’ve been a heavy frost last night. We’re paying for the spell of warm weather we’ve been having. [The throbbing whine of a motor sounds from the distance outside.]
Mrs. Atkins—[Sharply.] S-h-h! Listen! Ain’t that an auto I hear?
Ruth—[Without interest.] Yes. It’s Andy, I s’pose.
Mrs. Atkins—[With nervous irritation.] Don’t sit there like a silly goose. Look at the state of this room! What’ll this strange doctor think of us? Look at that lamp chimney all smoke! Gracious sakes, Ruth———
Ruth—[Indifferently.] I’ve got a lamp all cleaned up in the kitchen.
Mrs. Atkins—[Peremptorily.] Wheel me in there this minute. I don’t want him to see me looking a sight. I’ll lay down in the room the other side. You don’t need me now and I’m dead for sleep. I’ll have plenty of time to see Andy. [Ruth wheels her mother off right. The noise of the motor grows louder and finally ceases as the car stops on the road before the
