"If you 'ain't got ambitions for yourself, Ruby, think once of me and this long dream I been dreaming for—us."
"Yes, ma. Yes."
"Ruby, Ruby, and I always thought when you was so glad for Atlantic City, it was for Vetsburg; to show him how much you liked his folks. How could I know it was—."
"I never thought, mommy. Why—why, Vetsy he's just like a relation or something."
"I tell you, baby, it's just an idea you got in your head."
"No, no, mama. No, no."
Suddenly Mrs. Kaufman threw up her hands, clasping them tight against her eyes, pressing them in frenzy. "O my God!" she cried. "All for nothing!" and fell to moaning through her laced fingers. "All for nothing! Years. Years. Years."
"Mommy darling!"
"Oh—don't, don't! Just let me be. Let me be. O my God! My God!"
"Mommy, please, mommy! I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it, mommy darling."