Page:Icebound.pdf/105



''Scene: Same as Act One. Parlor at the Jordans’, two months later''.

''At rise the characters are grouped exactly as they were at the opening of the play. The white slip covers, however, have been removed from the chairs, and the backing through the window shows partly melted snow drifts. Henry sighs; the clock strikes two. Henry looks at his watch''.

''There is a pause. The outside door slams and Ben enters and looks about''.

Well—here we all are again.

(sadly)

Yes.

I ain’t been in this room before since the funeral.

And I ain’t, and the last time before that was when father died.

I sat right here, in the same chair I ’m settin’ in now, but to your grandfather’s funeral, right after I married Henry, I was treated like one of the poor relations! I had to stand up.

I remember; it made considerable trouble.