received your wire. Am bringing specialist to see Rob. Will motor to farm from Port.” [He calculates.] The midnight gets in the Port about four-thirty, I think, or five. It should take a car an hour or more to get here. What time is it now?
Ruth—Round six, must be.
Robert—He ought to be here soon. I’m glad he’s bringing a doctor who knows something. I’m tired of being at the mercy of that cheap old quack. A specialist will tell you in a second that there’s nothing the matter with my lungs.
Ruth—[Stolidly.] You’ve been coughing an awful lot lately.
Robert—[Irritably.] What nonsense! For God’s sake, haven’t you ever had a bad cold yourself? [Ruth stares at the stove in silence. Robert fidgets in his chair. There is a pause. Finally Robert’s eyes are fixed on the sleeping Mrs. Atkins.] Your mother is lucky to be able to sleep so soundly.
Ruth—Ma’s tired. She’s been sitting up with me most of the night.
Robert—[Mockingly.] Is she waiting for Andy, too? [There is a pause. Robert sighs.] I couldn’t get to sleep to save my soul. I counted ten million sheep if I counted one. No use! My brain kept pounding out thoughts as if its life depended on it. I gave up trying finally and just laid there in the dark thinking. [He pauses, then continues in a tone of tender sympathy.] I was thinking about you,
