MRS. JOHNS
I wish Gordon was a little younger, I'd like to turn him up and spank him. He's dreadfully stubborn and tactless—
MRS. SHEFF
But I'm afraid I did make a mistake. Laura was having such a good time as a girl, I was always afraid she'd have a hard awakening when she married. But Mr. Sheffield had a good deal of money at that time, and he used to say, 'She's only young once, let her enjoy herself.'
MRS. JOHNS
My husband was shortsighted, too. He had had to skimp so, that he brought up Gordon to have a terror of wasting a nickel.
MRS. SHEFF
Very sensible. I wish Mr. Sheffield had had a little more of that terror. I shall have to tell him what his policy has resulted in. But really, you know, when I heard them at it, I could hardly help admiring them. (With a sigh.) It brings back old times!
MRS. JOHNS
So it does! (A pause.) But we can't let them go on like this. A little vigorous quarreling is good for everybody. It's a kind of spiritual laxative. But they carry it too far.