Dada [who has heard only a faint murmur]. Hm.
Charlotte. You know he never reads anything but the Bible. Why do you nag him?
Jerry. He reads the encyclopædia at the Public Library. [With a rush of public spirit.] If he’d just read the newspapers he’d know what was going on and have something to talk about. He just sits around and never says anything.
Charlotte. At least he doesn’t gabble his head off all day. He’s got sense enough not to do that anyway, haven’t you, Dada?
Dada does not answer.
Jerry. Lookit here, Charlit. I don’t call it gabbling if I meet a man in the street and he says, “Well, I see somebody was nominated for President,” and I say, “Yes, I see saw—see so.” Suppose I said, “Yes, Lincoln was our greatest President.” He’d say, “Why, if that fella isn’t a piece of cheese I never saw a piece of cheese.”
Dada [turning about plaintively]. Some one has taken my Bible.
Jerry. No, there it is on the second shelf, Dada.
Dada. [He doesn’t hear.] I don’t like people moving it around.
Charlotte. Nobody moved it.