Part 13 (2/2)

ELIZABETH: He was a portrait painter. Do you do portraits?

d.i.c.k: Well, not the kind people buy.

ELIZABETH: They bought father's.

d.i.c.k: Yes, I know he did that kind.

HARRY: (still irritated) Why, you don't do portraits.

d.i.c.k: I did one of you the other day. You thought it was a milk-can.

ELIZABETH: (laughing delightedly) No? Not really? Did you think-How could you think-(as HARRY does not join the laugh) Oh, I beg your pardon. I-Does mother grow beautiful roses now?

HARRY: No, she does not.

(The trap-door begins to move. CLAIRE's head appears.)

ELIZABETH: Mother! It's been so long-(she tries to overcome the difficulties and embrace her mother)

CLAIRE: (protecting a box she has) Careful, Elizabeth. We mustn't upset the lice.

ELIZABETH: (retreating) Lice? (but quickly equal even to lice) Oh-yes. You take it-them-off plants, don't you?

CLAIRE: I'm putting them on certain plants.

ELIZABETH: (weakly) Oh, I thought you took them off.

CLAIRE: (calling) Anthony! (he comes) The lice. (he takes them from her) (CLAIRE, who has not fully ascended, looks at ELIZABETH, hesitates, then suddenly starts back down the stairs.)

HARRY: (outraged) Claire! (slowly she re-ascends-sits on the top step. After a long pause in which he has waited for CLAIRE to open a conversation with her daughter.) Well, and what have you been doing at school all this time?

ELIZABETH: Oh-studying.

CLAIRE: Studying what?

ELIZABETH: Why-the things one studies, mother.

CLAIRE: Oh! The things one studies. (looks down cellar again)

d.i.c.k: (after another wait) And what have you been doing besides studying?

ELIZABETH: Oh-the things one does. Tennis and skating and dancing and-

CLAIRE: The things one does.

ELIZABETH: Yes. All the things. The-the things one does. Though I haven't been in school these last few months, you know. Miss Lane took us to Europe.

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