Mother’d asked him before I knew it. JHANSI [_With scorn._] Your uncle! PEYTON He’s not my uncle--he’s mother’s. And you see it’s partly on account of grandmother just getting back from California. He’s grandmother’s brother-in-law, you know. I suppose she doesn’t realize what it means to have to sit down to dinner with him--she’s done it so much. And then mother thought it would be nice for you to meet him. JHANSI Nice! PEYTON He’s pleasant at dinner. JHANSI Pleasant! PEYTON Mother’s a little worried about my position in the university. JHANSI It would be wonderful for you to lose your position in the university. PEYTON Yes--wonderful. JHANSI And then you and I could walk forth free! PEYTON Free--but broke. JHANSI Peyton, you disappoint me. Just the fact that that man is coming to dinner changes you. PEYTON Oh, no. But you are fortunately situated, Jhansi, having no people. It’s easier to be free when there’s nobody who minds. JHANSI I am going! PEYTON Oh come now, dearest, you can’t go when you’re expected for dinner. Nobody’s that free. JHANSI Dinner! A dinner to celebrate our engagement! It’s humiliating, Peyton. I should take you by the hand and you and I should walk together down the open road. PEYTON We will, Jhansi; we will--in time. JHANSI We should go now. PEYTON Think so? Mother’s going to have turkey. JHANSI Better a dinner of berries and nuts--! PEYTON We’ll have berries--cranberries, and nuts, too. JHANSI Where is my coat? PEYTON [_Seizing her and kissing her._] Some day, serene and unhampered, we’ll take to the open road--a road with berries and nuts. [_GRANDMOTHER PEYTON and MRS. ROOT are at the door._ MRS. ROOT Mother, this is Peyton’s friend Miss Mason. One of our important students. GRANDMOTHER [_In her brittle way._] Yes? I never was a very important student myself. I didn’t like to study. Because my family were professors, I suppose. MRS. ROOT Peyton’s grandmother is a descendant of Gustave Phelps--one of the famous teachers of pioneer days. JHANSI [_Her head going up._] I am a descendant of people who never taught anybody anything! PEYTON Jhansi and I were just going to finish an article on Free Speech which must get to the Torch this evening. GRANDMOTHER [_Moving toward the big chair near the fire._] Free Speech? How amusing. PEYTON You may be less amused some day, grandmother. [_JHANSI and PEYTON go into the other room._ GRANDMOTHER That may be a free speech. I wouldn’t call it a pleasant one. MRS. ROOT [_Sinking to the divan._] Oh, he was speaking of the open road again--berries and nuts--! GRANDMOTHER [_Beginning to knit._] Berries and nuts? Well, it sounds quite innocuous to me. Some of our young people are less simple in their tastes. MRS. ROOT [_In great distress._] Mother, how would you like to see your grandson become a gypsy? GRANDMOTHER Peyton a gypsy? You mean in a carnival? MRS. ROOT No, not in a carnival! In _life_. GRANDMOTHER