[_She has run to window left and is looking out._ ELLA That’s what money does. If mother hadn’t left her everything, he wouldn’t have touched her with a ten-foot pole. NETTIE Well, if she’s fool enough to stay in this place, I guess he’s about the best there is. ELLA Then trust her for gettin’ him; by the time she gets through in Veazie, this town will be barer than Mother Hubbard’s cupboard by the time the dog got there. (_Her eye falls on Jane’s box, partly under sofa._) What’s that? [_She bends over, looking at it._ NETTIE What? ELLA I never saw it before. (_She draws it out_) Looks like a dress. See! Blue silk! NETTIE Open it. ELLA (_hesitates_) Must be hers! Maybe she wouldn’t like it. NETTIE Maybe she wouldn’t know it. ELLA A cat can look at a king! [_She opens the box and holds up the blue dress._ NETTIE Oh! Oh! ELLA (_really moved_) Some folks would say a dress like that wasn’t decent, but I wouldn’t care, not if it was mine, and it might have been mine--but for her. NETTIE Yours! Grandma wouldn’t have left her money to you. She hated old people. Everybody does. She’d have left it to me, but for Jane Crosby! ELLA (_looks at dress_) I always wanted a dress like this; when I was young, I used to dream about one, but mother only laughed. For years I counted on gettin’ me what I wanted, when she died; now I never will. NETTIE (_fiercely_) I will--somehow! ELLA Maybe but not me. Oh, if I could have the feelin’ of a dress like that on me, if I could wear it once, where folks could see me--Just once! Oh, I know how they’d laugh--I wouldn’t care---- NETTIE (_almost in tears_) I can’t stand it if she’s going to wear things like that. ELLA I’ll put it back. [_She starts to do so._ NETTIE (_catches her hand_) Not yet. ELLA I guess the less we look at it, the better off we’ll be. [_There is a ring at the front door._ NETTIE Who’s that? ELLA Here! (_She hands the box to Nettie_) Shove it back under the sofa. I’ll go and see. (_She turns and crosses to door left and out to the vestibule. Nettie, with the box in her arms, hesitates for a moment then turns and exits at right, taking the box with her. Ella opens the outside door at left, showing Orin on the doorstep. Ella looks at him angrily_) For time’s sake, what are _you_ ringing the bell for? ORIN Mum says for me not to act like I belonged here. ELLA Well, I’m goin’ to shut the door. Git in or git out! ORIN I got a note. (_He enters room as Ella shuts door_) It’s for her. ELLA (_holds out hand_) Let me see it. ORIN Mum said not to let on I had nothin’ if you came nosin’ around. [_Jane enters from left._ JANE I just ran across to the store. I haven’t been five minutes. [_She takes coat off._ ELLA He’s got a note for you, from Sadie. JANE Oh, let me see it, Orin. ORIN (_gives her note_)