ROBERT. (_too occupied with his own thoughts to hear her--vindictively_) Oh, those cursed hills out there that I used to think promised me so much! How I’ve grown to hate the sight of them! They’re like the walls of a narrow prison yard shutting me in from all the freedom and wonder of life! (_He turns back to the room with a gesture of loathing_) Sometimes I think if it wasn’t for you, Ruth, and--(_his voice softening_)--little Mary, I’d chuck everything up and walk down the road with just one desire in my heart--to put the whole rim of the world between me and those hills, and be able to breathe freely once more! (_He sinks down into his chair and smiles with bitter self-scorn_) There I go dreaming again--- my old fool dreams. RUTH. (_in a low, repressed voice--her eyes smoldering_) You’re not the only one! ROBERT. (_buried in his own thoughts--bitterly_) And Andy, who’s had the chance--what has he got out of it? His letters read like the diary of a--of a farmer! “We’re in Singapore now. It’s a dirty hole of a place and hotter than hell. Two of the crew are down with fever and we’re short-handed on the work. I’ll be damn glad when we sail again, although tacking back and forth in these blistering seas is a rotten job too!” (_Scornfully_) That’s about the way he summed up his impressions of the East. RUTH. (_her repressed voice trembling_) You needn’t make fun of Andy. ROBERT. When I think--but what’s the use? You know I wasn’t making fun of Andy personally, but his attitude toward things is---- RUTH. (_her eyes flashing--bursting into uncontrollable rage_) You was too making fun of him! And I ain’t going to stand for it! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! (ROBERT _stares at her in amazement. She continues furiously_) A fine one to talk about anyone else--after the way you’ve ruined everything with your lazy loafing!--and the stupid way you do things! ROBERT. (_angrily_) Stop that kind of talk, do you hear? RUTH. You findin’ fault--with your own brother who’s ten times the man you ever was or ever will be! You’re jealous, that’s what! Jealous because he’s made a man of himself, while you’re nothing but a--but a---- (_She stutters incoherently, overcome by rage_). ROBERT. Ruth! Ruth! You’ll be sorry for talking like that. RUTH. I won’t! I won’t never be sorry! I’m only saying what I’ve been thinking for years. ROBERT. (_aghast_) Ruth! You can’t mean that!