letter in her hands looking at him with defiant eyes. He bends down and kisses her.]
Ruth—[Feeling of her cheek—irritably.] Why don’t you shave? You look awful.
Robert—[Indifferently.] I forgot—and it’s too much trouble this weather.
Mary—[Throwing aside her doll, runs to him with a happy cry.] Dada! Dada!
Robert—[Swinging her up above his head—lovingly.] And how’s this little girl of mine this hot day, eh?
Mary—[Screeching happily.] Dada! Dada!
Ruth—[In annoyance.] Don’t do that to her! You know it’s time for her nap and you’ll get her all waked up; then I’ll be the one that’ll have to sit beside her till she falls asleep.
Robert—[Sitting down in the chair on the left of table and cuddling Mary on his lap.] You needn’t bother. I’ll put her to bed.
Ruth—[Shortly.] You’ve got to get back to your work, I s’pose.
Robert—[With a sigh.] Yes, I was forgetting. [He glances at the open letter on Ruth’s lap.] Reading Andy’s letter again? I should think you’d know it by heart by this time.
Ruth—[Coloring as if she’d been accused of something—defiantly.] I’ve got a right to read it, haven’t I? He says it’s meant for all of us.
Robert—[With a trace of irritation.] Right? Don’t be so silly. There’s no question of right. I