FEJEVARY: (_speaking of her with effort_) My sister died--long ago. (_pulled to an old feeling; with an effort releasing himself_) But Ira is still out at the old place--place the Mortons took up when they reached the end of their trail--as Uncle Silas used to put it. Why, it's a hundred years ago that Grandmother Morton began--making cookies here. She was the first white woman in this country. SENATOR: Proud woman! To have begun the life of this state! Oh, our pioneers! If they could only see us now, and know what they did! (FEJEVARY _is silent; he does not look quite happy_) I suppose Silas Morton's son is active in the college management. FEJEVARY: No, Ira is not a social being. Fred's death about finished him. He had been--strange for years, ever since my sister died--when the children were little. It was--(_again pulled back to that old feeling_) under pretty terrible circumstances. SENATOR: I can see that you thought a great deal of your sister, Mr Fejevary. FEJEVARY: Oh, she was beautiful and--(_bitterly_) it shouldn't have gone like that. SENATOR: Seems to me I've heard something about Silas Morton's son--though perhaps it wasn't this one. FEJEVARY: Ira is the only one living here now; the others have gone farther west. SENATOR: Isn't there something about corn? FEJEVARY: Yes. His corn has several years taken the prize--best in the state. He's experimented with it--created a new kind. They've given it his name--Morton corn. It seems corn is rather fascinating to work with--very mutable stuff. It's a good thing Ira has it, for it's about the only thing he does care for now. Oh, Madeline, of course. He has a daughter here in the college--Madeline Morton, senior this year--one of our best students. I'd like to have you meet Madeline--she's a great girl, though--peculiar. SENATOR: Well, that makes a girl interesting, if she isn't peculiar the wrong way. Sounds as if her home life might make her a little peculiar. FEJEVARY: Madeline stays here in town with us a good part of the time. Mrs Fejevary is devoted to her--we all are. (_a boy starts to come through from right_) Hello, see who's here. This is my boy. Horace, this is Senator Lewis, who is interested in the college. HORACE: (_shaking hands_) How do you do, Senator Lewis? SENATOR: Pleased to see you, my boy. HORACE: Am I butting in? FEJEVARY: Not seriously; but what are you doing in the library? I thought this was a day off. HORACE: I'm looking for a book. FEJEVARY: (_affectionately bantering_) You are, Horace? Now how does that happen? HORACE: I want the speeches of Abraham Lincoln. SENATOR: You couldn't do better. HORACE: I'll show those dirty dagoes where they get off! FEJEVARY: You couldn't show them a little more elegantly? HORACE: I'm going to sick the Legion on 'em. FEJEVARY: Are you talking about the Hindus? HORACE: Yes, the dirty dagoes. FEJEVARY: Hindus aren't dagoes you know, Horace.