KATE. [Coming down.] Look here, mother—I've heard you say you had to run away from home with father because your people didn't like him—but that didn't make him any worse, did it?
MRS. VERNON. Well, it didn't make him any better, Kate, and I've regretted it from the bottom of my heart a hundred times—I want you to understand—[Looks uneasily at door.] I've told it to him often enough—[Lowering voice.] And if he was here I'd tell him again now—that I could ha' married a doctor.
LIZBETH. You're not calculatin' to run away with Travers, are you,
Kate?
KATE. You know I'm not, Lizbeth—but I think you and mother might be a little more considerate in what you say. I try to make the place tidy and nice for your evenings with Dave, don't I?
LIZBETH. Well, I didn't mean nothin', Kate.
KATE. And I do my share of the housework. [Goes to window. As her voice trembles, MRS. VERNON signals silence to LIZBETH.
MRS. VERNON. Of course you do, dear. Lizbeth, you oughtn't to be so thoughtless in what you say.
Enter DAVE with beer.
DAVE. Here you are, Mrs. Vernon.
MRS. VERNON. Thank you, Dave—ask that old man in there if he'll have a glass.