Page:Icebound.pdf/22

10

Mother took her in out of charity.

And kept her out of spite.

I don’t know as you ought to say that, Ella.

It ’s my place she took, in my own mother’s house. I ’d been here now, but for her. I ain’t goin’ to forget that. No! Me, all these years payin’ board and slavin’ my life out, makin’ hats, like a nigger.

(smartly)

Oh! So that’s what they ’re like. I ’ve often wondered!

(rises)

You ’ll keep that common little thing of your wife’s from insultin’ me, Henry Jordan, or I won’t stay here another minute.

(angry)

Common!

Mother!

(sternly)

Hush up! All of yer!

It ’s Jane we ought to be talkin’ about.

Just as soon as you ’re the head of the family, Henry, you ’ve got to tell her she ain’t wanted here!

Well—I don’t know as I ’d want to do anything that was n't right. She ’s been here quite a spell.