SETH [_indifferently_]. She warn't no good. LON. She had t' leave yuh same as Ma left Pa twenty years ago. Pa's dyin' fur sure? SETH. Who told yuh? LON. Ma. SETH [_greatly surprised_]. Ma? [_suspiciously._] What you got t' do with her? LON. I was passin' her place this mornin'. Furst time I spoke t' her in a year. SETH. I ain't in two. LON [_in despair_]. Seth, she's cut twenty cords o' wood t' sell. SETH [_shaking his head_]. An' me without a roof o' my own. LON. Me an' the kids wonder sometimes where our next meal's comin' from. SETH [_as though there were something better in store for him_]. Oh, wall. LON [_pricks up his ears; coughs_]. If I had this house I could work at the fisheries. SETH. But yuh ain't a goin' t' git it. LON [_alarmed_]. Pa ain't gone an' left it t' yuh? SETH. Pa deeded this t' Doc last winter. LON [_amazed and angered_]. He did? SETH. Doc said he could live here 'till he died. But it's Doc's. LON. It warn't right. SETH. Wall, he had t' pay fur his physics some way. He told me yuh wouldn't help him out. LON. And Pa told me yuh wouldn't. An' yuh ain't got two kids t' feed. [_Pause._] There's Pa's old shanty down the road. If I had that I could work at the fisheries. [_Seth's smile is his only response._] Pa still owns it, don't he? SETH. There warn't no call fur him t' make his last will an' testament if he don't. LON [_brightens_]. He's left his last will an' testament? SETH. Yes. I'm figgerin' on sellin' the place t' Doc. LON [_emphatically_]. Pa ain't a left it t' yuh! SETH. Doc'll want it. LON [_forcefully_]. Where's the will an' testament? SETH [_with a gesture_]. In the tin box under that there kittle. [_Lon hurries to the shelves, picks up the dish, and grasps the box._] LON [_disappointed_]. It's locked. SETH. An' the key's round Pa's neck. LON. Let's git it. SETH. Pa won't give it t' us. LON. Yuh said he was sleepin'. SETH. I mean--he might wake up. [_Lon inspects the box further._] LON. I think I could open it. SETH. Pa might ask t' see it. LON. Hell. [_Puts the box back on the shelf._] SETH. Doc'll want the place seein' as how it's right next t' this un. [_Lon is very nervous._] Yuh might jest as wall go home. LON. No, yuh don't! Yuh can't make me believe Pa's left it t' yuh. [_Takes off his hat and mops his brow with his sleeve. The top of his head is very bald._] SETH. Then what yuh gettin' so excited 'bout? LON. I ain't excited. [_Puts his hat on._] It jest makes me mad 'cause yuh say Pa's left it t' yuh, an' I know he ain't. See? There warn't no call fur him t' heve willed an' testamented it t' yuh. Yuh've only yerself t' look after an' I've two motherless kids. SETH. Every one knows how much Pa thought o' them. LON. It warn't my fault if they thumbed their noses at him. SETH. Yuh could o' basted 'em.