Nettie loves her grandma, don’t you dear? NETTIE Some folks not so far off may get fooled before long about how much grandma and I was to each other. EMMA (_sternly_) You hush! [_Again there is a pause, and again it is broken by a loud sniff from Orin, as the women look at him in disgust. Sadie speaks up in his defense._ SADIE He’s got kind of a cold in his head. HENRY The question is, ain’t he got a handkerchief? SADIE Here, Orin! [_She hands him her handkerchief._ ELLA The idea! No handkerchief when you’ve come expectin’ some one to die! ORIN I had one, but I used it up. [_He blows his nose._ HENRY After four. Well, I expect they’ll have to close the store without me. ELLA I left everything just as soon as Jane sent me word! SADIE Why should Jane be with her instead of you or me, her own daughters? HENRY You girls always made her nervous, and I guess she’s pretty low. (_He looks at his watch again_) I said I’d be back before closin’ time. I don’t know as I dare to trust those boys. EMMA You can’t tell about things, when Sadie’s husband died we sat there most all night. SADIE (_angrily_) Yes, and you grudged it to him, I knew it then and it isn’t likely I’m going to forget it. ELLA Will was a good man, but even you can’t say he was ever very dependable. EMMA My first husband died sudden--(_she turns to Nettie_)--you can’t remember it, dear. ELLA _You_ didn’t remember it very long, it wa’n’t much more’n a year before you married Henry. HENRY (_sighs_) Well, he was as dead then as he’s ever got to be. (_He turns and glances nervously out window_) I don’t know but what I could just run down to the store for a minute, then hurry right back. SADIE You’re the oldest of her children, a body would think you’d be ashamed. HENRY Oh, I’ll stay. [_There is a silence. Orin sniffs. Ella glares at him._ ELLA Of course he _could_ sit somewheres else. [_Sadie puts her arm about Orin and looks spitefully at Ella. Doctor Curtis, an elderly country physician, comes down the stairs and enters the room, all turn to look at him._ DOCTOR No change at all. I’m sendin’ Jane to the drug store. ELLA (_rises eagerly_) I’ll just run up and sit with mother. [_Sadie jumps up and starts for door._ SADIE It might be better if I went. ELLA Why might it? [_They stand glaring at each other before either attempts to pass the Doctor, whose ample form almost blocks the doorway._ SADIE _I’ve_ been a wife and a mother. DOCTOR Hannah’s with her, you know. I told you I didn’t want anybody up there but Jane and Hannah. ELLA But we’re her own daughters. DOCTOR You don’t have to tell me, I brought both of you into the world. The right nursing might pull her through, even now; nothing else can, and I’ve got the two women I want. (_He crosses to Henry at stove_) Why don’t you put a little wood on the fire? HENRY