Minnie.  He’s the biggest man in Foxon Falls today!

Augusta.  That is as one thinks.  At any rate, he has this opportunity. 
Are you going to stand in the way of it?

Minnie.  Me stand in the way of it?

Augusta.  If Dr. Pindar accepts the place, you can’t go with him,—­you will have to find some other position.  Mr. Pindar is firm about that, and rightly so.  But I believe Dr. Pindar would be quite capable of refusing rather than inconvenience anyone with whom he is connected.

Minnie.  You’re right there!

Augusta.  He’s quixotic.

Minnie.  If that’s a compliment, you’re right again.

Augusta.  It isn’t exactly a compliment.

Minnie.  I guess you mean he’s queer—­but you’re wrong—­you’re wrong!  He’s the only man in Foxon Falls who knows what kind of a world we’re going to live in from now on.  Why?  Because he’s a scientist, because he’s trained himself to think straight, because he understands people like you and people like me.  He don’t blame us for what we do—­he knows why we do it.

   (A pause.)

That’s the reason I try not to blame you for being hard—­you can’t understand a girl like me.  You can’t understand George.

Augusta (white).  We’ll leave my son out of the conversation, if you please.  We were talking of Dr. Pindar.  You seem to have some consideration for him, at least.

Minnie.  I’d go to the electric chair for him!

Augusta.  I’m not asking you to do that.

Minnie.  You want me to go away and get another place.  I remember a lesson you gave us one day in Bible class, “Judge not, that you be not judged,”—­that was what you talked about.  But you’re judging me on what you think is my record,—­and you’d warn people against hiring me.  If everybody was a Christian like that these days, I’d starve or go on the street.

Augusta.  We have to pay for what we do.

Minnie.  And you make it your business to see that we pay.

   (A pause.)

Well, I’ll go.  I didn’t know how poor Dr. Jonathan was,—­he never said anything about it to me.  I’ll disappear.

Augusta.  You have some good in you.

Minnie.  Don’t begin talking to me about good!

   (Timothy Farrell enters, right.)

Timothy.  Good morning, ma’am. (Looking at Minnie and Augusta).  I came to fetch Minnie to pass an hour with me.

Augusta (agitated and taken aback).  Were—­were having a little talk.  (She goes up to Timothy.) I’m distressed to hear about Bert!

Timothy.  Thank you for your sympathy, ma’am.

   (A brief silence.  Enter Asher, right.)

Asher (surveying the group).  You here, Augusta? (He goes up to Timothy and presses his hand.) I wanted to see you, Timothy,—­I understand how you feel.  We both gave our sons in this war.  You’ve lost yours, and I expect to lose mine.