ear me, such weather!

MRS. MASTERSON. You didn't walk, I hope?

LETITIA. No, but even getting into the stores! I'm exhausted.

DR. MASTERSON. [Looking from paper.] Henry coming?

LETITIA. He said he might drop in. He's curious to see the lady.

DR. MASTERSON. Humph! No doubt!

LETITIA. Mother, I wish you'd try to do something with Henry. He's so
restless and discontented... he's getting to be simply impossible.

MRS. MASTERSON. I'm going to talk to him to-day, my dear.

LETITIA. Fancy my going out and burying myself in the country! And he
means it... he's at me all the time about it!

MRS. MASTERSON. Well, don't go, my dear!

LETITIA. Don't worry yourself... I've not the least intention of going.
Such things as we modern women have to endure! Only fancy, he's got an
idea he wants to be where he can work with his hands!

MRS. MASTERSON. Henry ought to have discovered these yearnings before he
married one of the Mastersons. As my daughter, you have certain social
obligations to fill... your friends have a claim upon you, quite as much
as your husband.

LETITIA. He says he wants to take the bungalow and make it over... wants
to plan it and work at it himself. And with me and the children sitting
out on the mountain-top in the snow until he finishes, I suppose!

MRS. MASTERSON. Quincy, do you know anything about this whim of Henry's
for a day-laborer's life?

DR. MASTERSON. My dear, Henry's a big, active man, and he wants
something to do.

MRS. MASTERSON. But hasn't he his business?

DR. MASTERSON. I dare say there are things more thrilling to a man than
commercial law-cases. And Henry's been thinking for himself... he says
the law's a cheat.

MRS. MASTERSON. Yes, I know... I've heard all that. And here we are,
just at this critical moment, when the girl is coming, and when he ought
to be advising us about that will.

DR. MASTERSON. It seems to me, my dear, you've managed to choose your
course without his aid. [A pause.] I hope we shan't have to get into any
quarrel with Oceana.

MRS. MASTERSON. We shall not if _I_ can help it, Quincy.

LETITIA. We simply intend to be firm, father.

MRS. MASTERSON. We intend to make it clear that we are going to stand by
our legal rights. With no hard feelings for her personally...

ETHEL. [Rising from chair.] Mother!

MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel!

ETHEL. Mother, this has gone just as far as it can go! I've felt all
along that something like this was preparing.

M