Augusta.  Minnie, I can’t let you talk about religion in this way in my presence.

Minnie.  I’m sorry, Mrs. Pindar, I knew it wasn’t no use to come and see you,—­I told father so.

Augusta.  I suppose, if you’re determined to continue this life of—­(she catches herself) I can’t stop you.

Minnie (flaring up).  What life?  Don’t worry about me, Mrs. Pindar,—­I get twenty five dollars a week at the Shale Works making barb wire to trip up the Huns with,—­enough to get nice clothes—­(she glances down at her dress) and buy good food, and have a good time on the side.

Augusta (whose conceptions of what she believes to be MINNIE’s kind are completely upset).  You still work?

Minnie.  Work!  Sure I work.  I wouldn’t let any man get a strangle hold on me.  And I don’t kick at a little overtime, neither.  I’m working for what he’s going to fight for—­(indicating George) it ain’t for myself only, but for everybody that ain’t been free, all over the world. (To Dr. Jonathan.) Ain’t that right? (She does not wait for his nod of approval.) I was just saying this morning—­(she looks toward George and catches herself)—­I’ve been wishing all along I could do more—­go as a nurse for some of the boys.

Augusta.  A nurse!

Minnie (to Dr. Jonathan).  If I was a man, I’d have been a doctor, like you.  Sick people don’t bother me, I give myself to ’em.  Before mother died, when she was sick, she always said I’d ought to have been a nurse.  (A pause.) Well, I guess I’ll go along.  The foreman only give me a couple of days off to see the old home town.

George.  Hold on, Minnie.

Minnie.  What is it?

George (to Augusta).  Minnie and I are old friends, mother.

Augusta.  Old friends?

George.  Yes.  I knew her—­very well before she went away from Foxon
Falls, and I went to Newcastle and took her out for a drive in my car.

Minnie (vehemently).  No, you never.

George.  Why do you deny it?

Minnie.  There’s nothing to it.

Augusta (aghast).  George!

George.  Well, it’s true.  I’m not ashamed of it, though Minnie appears to be.

Minnie (on the verge of tears).  If you wasn’t ashamed, why didn’t you tell, her before?  I’m not ashamed of it, neither.  It was natural.

Augusta (after a pause, with a supreme effort to meet the situation).  Well, I suppose men are different.  But there’s no excuse for you, after all I tried to do for you.

Minnie.  Thank God men are different!

   (Augusta rises.  The ball of wool drops to the floor again, and Dr.
   Jonathan picks it up.)

George.  Mother, I’d like to tell you about it.  You don’t understand.