MRS. ATKINS. (_snappily_) He’s had three years to learn, and he’s gettin’ worse ’stead of better. Not on’y your place but mine too is driftin’ to rack and ruin, and I can’t do nothin’ to prevent. MRS. MAYO. (_with a spark of assertiveness_) You can’t say but Robbie works hard, Sarah. MRS. ATKINS. What good’s workin’ hard if it don’t accomplish anythin’, I’d like to know? MRS. MAYO. Robbie’s had bad luck against him. MRS. ATKINS. Say what you’ve a mind to, Kate, the proof of the puddin’s in the eatin’; and you can’t deny that things have been goin’ from bad to worse ever since your husband died two years back. MRS. MAYO. (_wiping tears from her eyes with her handkerchief_) It was God’s will that he should be taken. MRS. ATKINS. (_triumphantly_) It was God’s punishment on James Mayo for the blasphemin’ and denyin’ of God he done all his sinful life! (MRS. MAYO _begins to weep softly_) There, Kate, I shouldn’t be remindin’ you, I know. He’s at peace, poor man, and forgiven, let’s pray. MRS. MAYO. (_wiping her eyes--simply_) James was a good man. MRS. ATKINS. (_ignoring this remark_) What I was sayin’ was that since Robert’s been in charge things’ve been goin’ down hill steady. You don’t know _how_ bad they are. Robert don’t let on to you what’s happenin’; and you’d never see it yourself if ’twas under your nose. But, thank the Lord, Ruth still comes to me once in a while for advice when she’s worried near out of her senses by his goin’s-on. Do you know what she told me last night? But I forgot, she said not to tell you--still I think you’ve got a right to know, and it’s my duty not to let such things go on behind your back. MRS. MAYO. (_wearily_) You can tell me if you want to. MRS. ATKINS. (_bending over toward her--in a low voice_) Ruth was almost crazy about it. Robert told her he’d have to mortgage the farm--said he didn’t know how he’d pull through ’til harvest without it, and he can’t get money any other way. (_She straightens up--indignantly_) Now what do you think of your Robert? MRS. MAYO. (_resignedly_) If it has to be---- MRS. ATKINS. You don’t mean to say you’re goin’ to sign away your farm, Kate Mayo--after me warnin’ you? MRS. MAYO.--I’ll do what Robbie says is needful. MRS. ATKINS. (_holding up her hands_) Well, of all the foolishness!---- well, it’s your farm, not mine, and I’ve nothin’ more to say. MRS. MAYO. Maybe Robbie’ll manage till Andy gets back and sees to things. It can’t be long now. MRS. ATKINS. (_with keen interest_) Ruth says Andy ought to turn up any day. When does Robert figger he’ll get here? MRS. MAYO. He says he can’t calculate exactly on account o’ the _Sunda_ being a sail boat. Last letter he got was from England, the day they were sailing for home. That was over a month ago, and Robbie thinks they’re overdue now. MRS. ATKINS. We can give praise to God then that he’ll be back in the nick o’ time. He ought to be tired of travelin’ and anxious to get home and settle down to work again.