Rachel: We often wondered, Tom and I; but—but somehow we never quite dared to ask you. You—you—always refused to talk about them, you know, Ma dear.
Mrs. Loving: Did you think—that—perhaps—the reason—I—I—wouldn’t talk about them—was—because, because—I was ashamed—of them? (Tom and Rachel look uncomfortable).
Rachel: Well, Ma dear—we—we—did—wonder.
Mrs. Loving (Questioningly): And you thought?
Rachel (Haltingly): W-e-l-l—
Mrs. Loving (Sharply): Yes?
Tom: Oh! come, now, Rachel, you know we haven’t bothered about it at all. Why should we? We’ve been happy.
Mrs. Loving: But when you have thought—you’ve been ashamed? (Intensely) Have you?
Tom: Now, Ma, aren’t you making a lot out of nothing?
Mrs. Loving (Slowly): No. (Half to herself) You evade—both—of you. You have been ashamed. And I never dreamed until today you could take it this way. How blind—how almost criminally blind, I have been.