[Sees girls, closes his hand over penny, and exits, making wry face.]
Bess (sighing). Poor boy! Evidently he has a cruel step-father who ill-uses him.
Madge. His case is less pitiable than ours, for one can at least occasionally escape the society of a man. Besides, men never make things so unpleasant at home.
Bess. "Home!" Oh, Madge! I could weep to think how we have looked forward to a home of our own, after ten years of boarding-school. (Enter, R., Stranger. She pauses on the threshold, listening.) And now to have everything spoiled by this hateful step-mother. It is too bad.
Madge. Papa writes that she is lovely, and will be as much a companion to us as to him.
Bess. Nonsense. Who ever heard of a step-mother being a companion? I am sure she is an ugly old maid who has no sympathy with anything under fifty years of age.
Madge. It was rather nice of her to ask papa to let us furnish our rooms in the new house, though.
Bess. Policy—mere policy. She wants to get rid of the trouble of doing it herself.
Madge. Well, for papa's sake I think we ought to try to like her.
Bess. Oh, you will like her fast enough, but I never, never can!