KATE. [Aside.] That is enough to make the man despise me! [Goes back to table.

TRAVERS. [Going up.] Oh, yes—­he knows he’s among friends.

MRS. VERNON. [Looking into shop.] Now I say they’s lots of folks of education what ain’t got as much sense as that dog.

TRAVERS comes down.

KATE.  Let us go walking.  I can’t breathe in here.

TRAVERS.  With pleasure.

MRS. VERNON.  Where you goin’, Kate?

KATE.  Only outside the door—­[At door.] to the corner.

MRS. VERNON. [Doubtingly.] Well—­[Going centre.  Exeunt, TRAVERS and KATE—­positively.] Well, I don’t care who hears me—­[Looks cautiously out.] I don’t like his looks.

Enter JOE.

JOE.  Ma!

MRS. VERNON.  What?

JOE.  Ain’t you got some soup-meat or sompthin’ you kin spare that little ki-yoodle?

MRS. VERNON.  Well, if his leg’s broke, he better not have no meat or stuff that’d feed a fever.  If yew kin drink your second cup in the mornin’ without milk, I kin spare him some o’ that.

JOE.  All right.

MRS. VERNON. [Scolding.] An’ the milk’s hangin’ in the cistern. [Takes cup from back wall.] Plague take it!  Woman’s work’s never done. [Exit.

JOE. [After a moment.] I s’pose I could a got it. [Calls.]
Lizbeth!

LIZBETH. [Off.] Yes. [Enters.

JOE. [Scolding.] Why don’t you help your poor ma?  She’s had to go after the milk.

LIZBETH. [Angrily meeting JOE’S tone.] Well, I didn’t know it. [Exit after MRS. VERNON.

JOE. [Getting alarm-clock.  Calls into shop.] Dave!

DAVE. [Off.] Yes.

JOE. [At door.] You don’t need him, Jim?

JIM. [Off.] No.

JOE. [Leaving door.] See here—­[Enter DAVE.] Kin you run one o’ these machines?

DAVE.  I allow I kin.

JOE. [Hands clock to DAVE.] Then set her an hour earlier, and have things fired up in the mornin’.  We’ve got to weld that Louisiana tire, I reckon, afore breakfast.

DAVE.  All right.

Enter MRS. VERNON and LIZBETH.

MRS. VERNON.  Here, Joe—­[Hands cup.] Git to feedin’ it.  I’ll git attached to it, an’ we’ve got too many dogs now.

JOE. [Caressing her with rough push on the face.] I know you, ma—­you’re the motherin’est old hen in Pike—­[Going.] If he don’t drink this I’ll drowned him.

MRS. VERNON. [To street door.] Now, Lizbeth, I don’t see nothin’ of Kate.  She’s out there with Travers—­you an’ Dave kind o’ hang round like you was with ’em.

LIZBETH.  Come, Dave. [To MRS. VERNON.] Jes’ not let on?

MRS. VERNON.  Yes—­purtendin’.

Exit LIZBETH.