Yes, ma'am!

[ETHEL shivers at the "ma'am.">[

[He sits in the chair which HORACE has occupied, still holding his hat in his hand.]

ETHEL

[tremulously, her eyes cast down]

As you know, I—I—

[She stops, as if afraid of breaking down; then, turning toward him, cries sharply.]

Oh, are you really my guardian?

PIKE

[smiling]