10
CRAIG’S WIFE
- commences to remove her gloves) It doesn’t seem ever to occur to anybody in the house, Ethel, to use the back stairway. It’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen in your life, really. We might just as well not have one. No matter how many times they have to go up or down stairs, they must go tramping up and down this front way. And you know what stairs look like after they’ve been tramped up and down a few times. (Mrs. Harold comes in with a glass of water on a small silver tray) Thanks, Mrs. Harold.
Ethel (picking up a framed photograph from the piano)
- Isn’t this Mother’s picture, Aunt Harriet?
- [Mrs. Harold goes out.
Mrs. Craig (crossing to Ethel)
- Yes, that’s your mother.
Ethel
- I thought it looked something like her.
Mrs. Craig (taking the picture)
- She had it taken at Lakewood one summer, and I always liked it. I like that dress; it never seemed to get old-fashioned.
Ethel (starting to cry)
- It doesn’t look much like her now, does it?
- [She moves forward to the chair beside the piano and sits down.
Mrs. Craig (putting the picture back on the piano)
- Now, Ethel dear, you mustn’t start that. Your mother’s been through this very same kind of thing many times before.
Ethel
- But, I should be there, Aunt Harriet. Supposing something should happen.
