MRS. R. (l. staring at him.) Allen, lad! (Bewildered, not grasping it. Deb. having risen, stands with the hot pie that she has that moment taken from the oven, transfixed R.)
ALLEN. (At door c.) I’ve come home, you see, to stop—for good. Are thee glad to see me, mother?
MRS. R. (l.) Come home! To stop! For good! Ah! (Rushes across with a cry of joy and hugs him up c.) I said he would—I said he would—I said he would. My boy! My boy! (After a pause.) And—and all the money, and—and Miss Dexter?
ALLEN. (Taking off his hat and throwing it down at hack.) Shadows, mother, that have passed away, out of my life, for ever. I’ll tell thee all about it later on, never mind to-night. Let’s think only about ourselves. (Going to Deb. r.) Are thee glad to see me?
(Mrs. R. pushes them together from behind r. Deb. still with pie in her hands, puts her face up. Allen bends and kisses it. Mrs. R. catches the two in her arms, and embraces both at once, laughing. Deb. holds pie out at arm’s length to save it.)
ALLEN. Mind the pie, mother.
MRS. R. (Still embracing them.) Are thee hungry, lad?
ALLEN. Rather.
MRS. R. Bless un, and thee’ve come back just in time for supper, as thee alius used to. (Laughs, sits up stage, top of table.) Can thee eat veal pasty?
ALLEN. Can I eat veal—(taking off overcoat and throwing it on chair r. c.) Let me get at un, that’s all.