But even if she were only _my_ relation, Mary, and not related to _you_ at all, I know enough of your sweet nature to know that she would always be welcome in our home in spite of her little idiosyncrasies. [_Enter Cousin Fanny, to John and Mary Speaker, through door right hack. She coughs as she steps forward, leaning on a cane, and puts her hand to her chest, stop-ping. Then as she comes forward, she stumbles. John and Mary Speaker leap forward, put their arms behind her, and, supporting and leading her, conduct her tenderly down stage to chair at center of room they are in. John and Mary Thinker, near together at table in their room, lean forward eagerly and watch this entrance, and when the old woman stumbles, John Thinker says to Mary Thinker, nudging her:_] John Thinker You see? Mary Thinker See what? John Thinker She totters! Mary Thinker She stumbled. John Thinker She's getting weaker. [_Mary Speaker tenderly kisses Cousin Fanny, as Mary Thinker says_:] Mary Thinker Weaker! She'll live to be a hundred and ten! John Thinker Not she! Mary Thinker The mean kind always do! John Speaker [_Tenderly, to Cousin Fanny, arranging cushion behind her._] Can't I get you a wrap, Cousin Fanny? Mary Speaker Don't you feel a draught, Cousin Fanny? Mary Thinker [_Bitterly, frowning at other group_.] No draught will ever harm her! Cousin Fanny [_To John Speaker, sneeringly; petulantly._] You're mighty anxious about a _wrap_, John! But you were thinking of going out and leaving me practically alone in the house. John Speaker [_Deprecatingly._ ] But, Cousin Fanny---- Cousin Fanny [_Interrupting_.] Don't deny it! Don't take the trouble to deny it! Don't lie about it! You can't lie to me! Don't I see your evening clothes? And Mary, too! Both of you were going out--_both_ of you! Mary Speaker Cousin Fanny, we gave it up when we learned that you wanted us to stop at home with you. Didn't we, John? Cousin Fanny [_Querulously, childishly, shrilly._] Don't deny it, Mary, don't deny it! Don't excuse yourself! I can see you were going out! I can see your evening clothes! Mary Speaker We'll go and change to something else, won't we, John? [_She is going, as she speaks, but Cousin Fanny cries out_:] Cousin Fanny Stop! [_Mary Speaker stops, and Cousin Fanny continues_:] Don't take them off. I don't want you to take them off. What do you want to take them off for? Are they too good for _me_ to see? Are they too grand for me to look at? Ain't I as good as any one you'd find if you went out? Heh? Mary Speaker Cousin Fanny, I didn't mean that. I meant---- Cousin Fanny [_Interrupting._] I know what you meant! Don't tell me what you meant, Mary. You meant to slip out and leave me here alone, both of you. It's lucky I caught you in time. It's lucky I have money! It's lucky I don't have to put up with the treatment most old folks get. I'd starve, if I were poor! I'd die of hunger and neglect!