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I guess there was n’t much laughing at your family table.

Summers nobody had much time for it, and winters,—well, I guess you know.

Yes.

Just a few folks together, day after day, and every little thing you don’t like about the other raspin’ on your nerves ’til it almost drives you crazy! Most folks quiet, because they ’ve said all the things they ’ve got to say a hundred times; other folks talkin’, talkin’, talkin’ about nothing. Sometimes somebody sort of laughs, and it scares you; seems like laughter needs the sun, same as flowers do. Icebound, that ’s what we are all of us, inside and out.

[He stands looking grimly out window.

Not all. I laughed a lot before I came here to live.

(turns and looks at her)

I remember, you were just a little girl.

I was fourteen. See if there ’s a spool of black sewing cotton in that drawer.

(looking in drawer)

You mean thread?

Yes.