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It ’s my birthday, that ’s all. Did you know it was my birthday, Ben?

(carelessly)

Is it? I shoveled them damned paths!

[He crosses and sits by fire.

Ella ’s going into the dressmaking business, Ben.

(moodily)

What of it?

That ’s what I say. It ain’t much of a business.

[She exits at right; outside it grows to dusk.

Are you tired?

Maybe.

[He stretches his feet out toward fire.

You ’ve done a lot of work to-day.

And every day.

I don’t suppose you know how much good it ’s done you, how well you look!

Beauty ’s only skin deep.

Folks change, even in a few weeks, outside and in. Hard work don’t hurt anybody.

I got chilblains on my feet. The damned shoes are stiffer than they ever was.