SCENE. The Brice living-room comfortably furnished in walnut. A piano centre L., a round table rear R. Four entrances: upper L., rear centre, upper right, right centre. Curtained windows rear R. & L.
Joy seems to radiate through the household. Ditto and Katherine are discovered; Katherine, a pretty enthusiast of 22 playing diminuendo a joy-melody at piano; Ditto, pretty, 20 and nervous, crossing R. with an armload of tagged packages of various sizes and prettily tied—birthday presents for her brother David. Arrived at table, rear R., she deposits them.
Ditto. (Stacking packages.) Don’t you wish you were getting these birthday presents, Katherine?
Katherine. (Playing.) I am, Ditto, dear. David is mine; therefore, what is David’s belongs to me.
Ditto. (Petulantly.) And what is yours....
Katherine. (In fun.) ... Belongs to father.
(Begins to sing merrily.)
(Exit Ditto, R.)
Enter Mrs. Brice, L., a thoughtful woman of 50, quite grey and though careworn, attractive. She carries a linen spread and goes to the table. Katherine sings softly, playing diminuendo.
Mrs. Brice. (Covering presents.) You are very happy tonight, aren’t you?