julia. You mean, you had been staying with Laura?
martha. I always go and stay with her, as long as I can—three months, I'm supposed to. But this year—well, I couldn't manage with it.
julia. Is she so much more difficult than she used to be?
martha. Of course, I don't know what she's like here.
julia. Oh, she has been very much herself—poor Laura!
martha. I know! Julia, I know! And I try to make allowances. All her life she's had her own way with somebody. Poor William! Of course I know he had his faults. But he used to come and say to me: 'Martha, I can't please her.' Well, poor man, he's at peace now, let's hope! Oh, Julia, I've just thought: whatever will poor William do? He's here, I suppose, somewhere?
julia. Oh yes. He's here, Martha.
martha. She'll rout him out, depend on it.
julia. She has routed him out.
martha (awe-struck). Has she?