Henry : I suppose it's in the family. (pause) Where are my slippers?
Mrs. Slater : In the kitchen; but you want a new pair, those old ones are nearly worn out.
(Nearly breaking down) You don't seem to realize what it's costing me to
bear up like I am doing. My heart's fit to break when I see the little trifles
that belonged to father lying around, and think he'll never use them again.
(Briskly) Here! You'd better wear these slippers of my father's now. It's lucky
he'd just got a new pair.
Henry : They'll be very small for me, my dear.
Mrs. Slater : They'll stretch, won't they? I'm not going to have them wasted. (She has
finished laying the table.) Henry, I've been thinking about that bureau of
my father's that's in his bedroom. You know I always wanted to have it after
he died.
Henry : You must arrange with Elizabeth when you're dividing things up.
Mrs. Slater : Elizabeth's that sharp she'll see I'm after it, and we'll drive a hard bargain over
it.
Henry : Perhaps she's got her eye
on the bureau as well.
Mrs. Slater : She's got her eye on the
bureau as well.
Mrs. Slater : She's never been here
since father bought it. If
it was only down here
instead of in his room,
she'd never guess it wasn't
our own.
Henry : (startled): Amelia! (He
rises)
Mrs. Slater : Henry, why shouldn't we
bring that bureau down
here now? We can do it
before they come.
