Rachel (Frightened): Ma dear! What is the matter? Tom! Quick! (Tom reenters and goes to them).
Mrs. Loving (Controlling herself with an effort and breathing hard): Nothing, dears, nothing. I must be—I am—nervous tonight. (With a forced smile) How do-you-do, Jimmy? Now, Rachel—perhaps—don’t you think—you had better take him back to his mother? Good-night, Jimmy! (Eyes the child in a fascinated way the whole time he is in the room. Rachel, very much perturbed, takes the child out). Tom, open that window, please! There! That’s better! (Still breathing deeply). What a fool I am!
Tom (Patting his mother awkwardly on the back): You’re all pegged out, that’s the trouble—working entirely too hard. Can’t you stop for the night and go to bed right after supper?
Mrs. Loving: I’ll see, Tommy dear. Now, I must look after the supper.
Tom: Huh! Well, I guess not. How old do you think Rachel and I are anyway? I see; you think we’ll break some of this be-au-tiful Hav-i-land china, we bought at the “Five and Ten Cent Store.” (To Rachel who has just reentered wearing a puzzled and worried expression. She is without hat and coat). Say, Rachel, do you think you’re old enough?
Rachel: Old enough for what, Tommy?
Tom: To dish up the supper for Ma.
Rachel (With attempted sprightliness): Ma dear thinks nothing can go on in this little flat unless she does it. Let’s show her a thing or two. (They bring in the dinner. Mrs. Loving with trembling hands tries to sew. Tom and Rachel watch her covertly. Presently she gets up.)
Mrs. Loving: I’ll be back in a minute, children. (Goes out the door that leads to the other rooms of the flat. Tom and Rachel look at each other).
Rachel (In a low voice keeping her eyes on the door): Why do you suppose she acted so strangely about Jimmy?