THE GRANDFATHER. It seems to me that the cold is penetrating into the room. THE DAUGHTER. There is a little wind in the garden, grandfather, and the rose-leaves are falling. THE FATHER. Well, shut the door. It is late. THE DAUGHTER. Yes, father.... I cannot shut the door. THE TWO OTHER DAUGHTERS. We cannot shut the door. THE GRANDFATHER. Why, what is the matter with the door, my children? THE UNCLE. You need not say that in such an extraordinary voice. I will go and help them. THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. We cannot manage to shut it quite. THE UNCLE. It is because of the damp. Let us all push together. There must be something in the way. THE FATHER. The carpenter will set it right to-morrow. THE GRANDFATHER. Is the carpenter coming to-morrow. THE DAUGHTER. Yes, grandfather; he is coming to do some work in the cellar. THE GRANDFATHER. He will make a noise in the house. THE DAUGHTER. I will tell him to work quietly. [_Suddenly the sound of a scythe being sharpened is heard outside._] THE GRANDFATHER [_with a shudder_]. Oh! THE UNCLE. What is that? THE DAUGHTER. I don't quite know; I think it is the gardener. I cannot quite see; he is in the shadow of the house. THE FATHER. It is the gardener going to mow. THE UNCLE. He mows by night? THE FATHER. Is not to-morrow Sunday?--Yes.--I noticed that the grass was very long round the house. THE GRANDFATHER. It seems to me that his scythe makes as much noise.... THE DAUGHTER. He is mowing near the house. THE GRANDFATHER. Can you see him, Ursula? THE DAUGHTER. No, grandfather. He is standing in the dark. THE GRANDFATHER. I am afraid he will wake my daughter. THE UNCLE. We can scarcely hear him. THE GRANDFATHER. It sounds as if he were mowing inside the house. THE UNCLE. The invalid will not hear it; there is no danger. THE FATHER. It seems to me that the lamp is not burning well this evening. THE UNCLE. It wants filling. THE FATHER. I saw it filled this morning. It has burnt badly since the window was shut. THE UNCLE. I fancy the chimney is dirty. THE FATHER. It will burn better presently. THE DAUGHTER. Grandfather is asleep. He has not slept for three nights. THE FATHER. He has been so much worried. THE UNCLE. He always worries too much. At times he will not listen to reason. THE FATHER. It is quite excusable at his age. THE UNCLE. God knows what we shall be like at his age! THE FATHER. He is nearly eighty. THE UNCLE. Then he has a right to be strange. THE FATHER. He is like all blind people. THE UNCLE. They think too much. THE FATHER. They have too much time to spare. THE UNCLE. They have nothing else to do. THE FATHER. And, besides, they have no distractions. THE UNCLE. That must be terrible. THE FATHER. Apparently one gets used to it. THE UNCLE. I cannot imagine it. THE FATHER. They are certainly to be pitied.