MRS. ATKINS. (_irritably_) Can’t you keep that child still? Her racket’s enough to split a body’s ears. Put her down and let her play with the doll if it’ll quiet her. RUTH. (_lifting_ MARY _to the floor_) There! I hope you’ll be satisfied and keep still. (MARY _sits down on the floor before the table and plays with the doll in silence_. RUTH _glances at the place set on the table_) It’s a wonder Rob wouldn’t try to get to meals on time once in a while. MRS. MAYO. (_dully_) Something must have gone wrong again. RUTH. (_wearily_) I s’pose so. Something’s always going wrong these days, it looks like. MRS. ATKINS. (_snappily_) It wouldn’t if you possessed a bit of spunk. The idea of you permittin’ him to come in to meals at all hours--and you doin’ the work! I never heard of such a thin’. You’re too easy goin’, that’s the trouble. RUTH. Do stop your nagging at me, Ma! I’m sick of hearing you. I’ll do as I please about it; and thank you for not interfering. (_She wipes her moist forehead--wearily_) Phew! It’s too hot to argue. Let’s talk of something pleasant. (_Curiously_) Didn’t I hear you speaking about Andy a while ago? MRS. MAYO. We were wondering when he’d get home. RUTH. (_brightening_) Rob says any day now he’s liable to drop in and surprise us--him and the Captain. It’ll certainly look natural to see him around the farm again. MRS. ATKINS. Let’s hope the farm’ll look more natural, too, when he’s had a hand at it. The way thin’s are now! RUTH. (_irritably_) Will you stop harping on that, Ma? We all know things aren’t as they might be. What’s the good of your complaining all the time? MRS. ATKINS. There, Kate Mayo! Ain’t that just what I told you? I can’t say a word of advice to my own daughter even, she’s that stubborn and self-willed. RUTH. (_putting her hands over her ears--in exasperation_) For goodness sakes, Ma! MRS. MAYO. (_dully_) Never mind. Andy’ll fix everything when he comes. RUTH. (_hopefully_) Oh, yes, I know he will. He always did know just the right thing ought to be done. (_With weary vexation_) It’s a shame for him to come home and have to start in with things in such a topsy-turvy. MRS. MAYO. Andy’ll manage. RUTH. (_sighing_) I s’pose it isn’t Rob’s fault things go wrong with him. MRS. ATKINS. (_scornfully_) Hump! (_She fans herself nervously_) Land o’ Goshen, but it’s bakin’ in here! Let’s go out in under the trees in back where there’s a breath of fresh air. Come, Kate. (MRS. MAYO _gets up obediently and starts to wheel the invalid’s chair toward the screen door_) You better come too, Ruth. It’ll do you good. Learn him a lesson and let him get his own dinner. Don’t be such a fool. RUTH. (_going and holding the screen door open for them--listlessly_) He wouldn’t mind. He doesn’t eat much. But I can’t go anyway. I’ve got to put baby to bed. MRS. ATKINS. Let’s go, Kate. I’m boilin’ in here. (MRS. MAYO _wheels her out and off left_. RUTH _comes back and sits down in her chair_).