JULIA (a little jocosely).  Not in the box, apparently.

LAURA (returning to her accusation).  I thought you had it.

JULIA.  You were mistaken.  Had I had it here, you would have found it.

LAURA.  Did Martha never tell you what she did with it?

JULIA.  I never asked, Laura.

LAURA.  Julia, if you say that again I shall scream.

JULIA.  Won’t you take your things off?

LAURA.  Presently.  When I feel more at home. (Returning to the charge) But most of our Mother’s things are here.

JULIA.  Your share and mine.

LAURA.  How did you get mine here?

JULIA.  You brought them.  At least, they came, a little before you did.  Then I knew you were on your way.

LAURA (impressed). Lor’!  So that’s how things happen?

(She goes and begins to take a look round, and Julia takes up her crochet again.  As she does so her eye is arrested by a little old-fashioned hour-glass standing upon the table from which the tea-tray has been taken, the sands of which are still running.)

JULIA (softly, almost to herself).  Oh, but how strange!  That was Martha’s.  Is Martha coming too? (She picks up the glass, looks at it, and sets it down again)

LAURA (who is examining the china on a side-table). Why, I declare,
Julia!  Here is your Dresden that was broken—­without a crack in it!

JULIA.  No, Laura, it was yours that was broken.

LAURA.  It was not mine; it was yours...Don’t you remember I broke it?

JULIA.  When you broke it you said it was mine.  Until you broke it, you said it was yours.

LAURA.  Very well, then:  as you wish.  It isn’t broken now, and it’s mine.

JULIA.  That’s satisfactory.  I get my own back again.  It’s the better one.

(ENTER Hannah with a telegram on a salver.)

HANNAH (in a low voice of mystery).  A telegram, Ma’am.

(Julia opens it.  The contents evidently startle her, but she retains her presence of mind)

JULIA.  No answer.

(EXIT Hannah)

JULIA.  Laura, Martha is coming!

LAURA.  Here?  Well, I wonder how she has managed that!

(Her sister hands her the telegram, which she reads.)

‘Accident.  Quite safe.  Arriving by the 6.30.’  Why, it’s after that now!

JULIA (sentimentally). Oh, Laura, only think!  So now we shall be all together again.

LAURA.  Yes, I suppose we shall.

JULIA.  It will be quite like old days.

LAURA (warningly, as she sits down again and prepares for narrative).  Not quite, Julia. (She leans forward, and speaks with measured emphasis) Martha’s temper has got very queer!  She never had a very good temper, as you know:  and it’s grown on her.