t
matters is whether your vision arose from seeing the telegram or seeing
the telegraph boy? The philosophic truth is the same.

PERRON

Mon dieu! What difference does it make? But I swear I have the telegram,
and it reads just as I told you!

ALEXANDRE

But no! You are ungrateful, and for that I despise you!

PERRON

But yes! And after reading it four times I locked it in my safe. Do I not
_know_ I entered my shop and locked it up?

ALEXANDRE

Yes, and do you not know also that you moved to the Rue de la Paix?

PERRON

Oh! Could it have been--Then I am ruined, and my brother is the most
selfish of men!

ALEXANDRE

But it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. In the path shall you grow
steadfast and contented.

PERRON

It doesn't matter!

ALEXANDRE

Not at all. And when you have become reasonable and grateful, I shall
return and speak further with you. I shall devise for you such sacrifice
as shall make the saints but as little children. Au revoir.

(_He turns away. The clock of St. Sulpice tones the half hour. The
watchmaker listens to it with open mouth, and trembling violently, darts
through the door of his shop._)

RAIN

PERSONS

CHARLES EVERITT
MARY, his wife
WALTER, seventeen
ALICE, fifteen
HAROLD, five

_The scene shows a hotel "parlor" in the White Mountains. Beneath the
flashy ugliness of its modern wall paper and upholstery, a certain
refinement persists from an older generation. The room itself is well
proportioned, with a very good hearth. The parlor might once have been the
ball room in a squire's mansion._

_It is about seven o'clock of an August evening, the room feebly lighted
by a flickering acetylene burner. One feels the commencement of rain. A
door to the rear opens and the Everitts enter, the younger children
first._

HAROLD

She didn't give me any toast. I want some toast!

WALTER

A rotten supper!

MRS. EVERITT

Never mind, Harold, you had two cups of that beautiful milk.

ALICE

Of course it was rotten. Everything's second rate here. Ugh! what a musty
smell!

WALTER

I told father we ought to go ahead. The car could have done another six
miles easily. And we'd have reached the Mountain Inn.

ALICE

I'm sure there's a dance there to-night!

EVERITT

The car could _not_ have done the six miles. We were lucky to make that
last hill. You might have had to walk the whole way.

ALICE

Well, we always start too soon or too late. For