It is coming down.  I never heard it make so much noise.

MRS. EVERITT

That’s because city people never have a roof over their heads!

ALICE

Why, mother, the rain makes your voice vibrate like—­

WALTER

Like a fire engine.  I stood right by one, once.

MRS. EVERITT

Come, Harold, sit on my lap.

EVERITT

Shall I close the blinds?

ALICE

Yes.

MRS. EVERITT

No, don’t.  Nobody’s about on a night like this.

HAROLD

Wish I could see rain.  What it like?

EVERITT

What’s what like?

HAROLD

Rain—­rain.

ALICE

Like shower baths.

HAROLD

Oh.  Mother, tell me story about rain.  I like rain! (Everitt feels about for his cigar case.  A letter falls from his pocket which he picks up hurriedly)

EVERITT

I’m going for a cigar.

WALTER

It’s like being in a submarine!

HAROLD

Mother, tell me story!

MRS. EVERITT

Once upon a time—­

WALTER

I’m going out for a minute.

ALICE

I wish....

HAROLD

Once on a time!

MRS. EVERITT

Oh, yes.  Once there was a little girl who lived in the country.

HAROLD

What country?

MRS. EVERITT

A country something like this.  She and her mother lived in a little house beside a brook.  The little girl loved to listen to the brook outside her window at night.  One day she asked her mother where the brook went to.  She didn’t want her brook to run away.  And what do you suppose her mother said?

HAROLD

What her mother say?