CLAIRE: Oh! The things one studies. (_looks down cellar again_) DICK: (_after another wait_) And what have you been doing besides studying? ELIZABETH: Oh--the things one does. Tennis and skating and dancing and-- CLAIRE: The things one does. ELIZABETH: Yes. All the things. The--the things one does. Though I haven't been in school these last few months, you know. Miss Lane took us to Europe. TOM: And how did you like Europe? ELIZABETH: (_capably_) Oh, I thought it was awfully amusing. All the girls were quite mad about Europe. Of course, I'm glad I'm an American. CLAIRE: Why? ELIZABETH: (_laughing_) Why--mother! Of course one is glad one is an American. All the girls-- CLAIRE: (_turning away_) O--h! (_a moan under the breath_) ELIZABETH: Why, mother--aren't you well? HARRY: Your mother has been working pretty hard at all this. ELIZABETH: Oh, I do so want to know all about it? Perhaps I can help you! I think it's just awfully amusing that you're doing something. One does nowadays, doesn't one?--if you know what I mean. It was the war, wasn't it, made it the thing to do something? DICK: (_slyly_) And you thought, Claire, that the war was lost. ELIZABETH: The _war? Lost!_ (_her capable laugh_) Fancy our losing a war! Miss Lane says we should give _thanks_. She says we should each do some expressive thing--you know what I mean? And that this is the _keynote_ of the age. Of course, one's own kind of thing. Like mother--growing flowers. CLAIRE: You think that is one's own kind of thing? ELIZABETH: Why, of course I do, mother. And so does Miss Lane. All the girls-- CLAIRE: (_shaking her head as if to get something out_) S-hoo. ELIZABETH: What is it, mother? CLAIRE: A fly shut up in my ear--'All the girls!' ELIZABETH: (_laughing_) Mother was always so amusing. So _different_--if you know what I mean. Vacations I've lived mostly with Aunt Adelaide, you know. CLAIRE: My sister who is fitted to rear children. HARRY: Well, somebody has to do it. ELIZABETH: And I do love Aunt Adelaide, but I think its going to be awfully amusing to be around with mother now--and help her with her work. Help do some useful beautiful thing. CLAIRE: I am not doing any useful beautiful thing. ELIZABETH: Oh, but you are, mother. Of course you are. Miss Lane says so. She says it is your splendid heritage gives you this impulse to do a beautiful thing for the race. She says you are doing in your way what the great teachers and preachers behind you did in theirs. CLAIRE: (_who is good for little more_) Well, all I can say is, Miss Lane is stung. ELIZABETH: Mother! What a thing to say of Miss Lane. (_from this slipping into more of a little girl manner_) Oh, she gave me a spiel one day about living up to the men I come from. (CLAIRE _turns and regards her daughter_.) CLAIRE: You'll do it, Elizabeth.