Madden [in the doorway, catching sight of Mrs. Madden. With pathetic eagerness]. Florrie! [He closes the door.]
Mrs. Madden [without looking up. In lazy, matter of fact tones]. 'Lo, Jim.
Madden [coming forward toward his wife]. Are you really safe, Florrie?
[She looks up with a glance of feeble annoyance.]
Mrs. Madden. Sure. I'm all right. [She looks down again.]
Madden [coming still closer]. Oh, I'm so thankful!... I ... I been lookin' for you, Florrie.—Where you been?
Mrs. Madden [without looking up]. Wat d' y' say?
Madden. Where you been, Florrie? [With even greater anxiety.] You didn't go down by the river?
Mrs. Madden [looking up]. Lord no! W'atev'r made y' think that? [She takes up a chocolate cream and bites off half of it.] I jus' took Mrs. Montanio over t' Brailey's new place f'r a couple o' ice cream sodas. [She looks down again.]
Madden [softly]. Oh. [A shadow passes over his face and vanishes.] Florrie. [He sits down on the left arm of the morris chair and puts his arm affectionately about her shoulders.] I didn't know what I was sayin'.