Part 8 (2/2)

You were not afraid to come.

_Reba_

I like to take risks. Life's dull in this village.

_Philo_

How you've changed, Reba!

_Reba_

It's taken you long enough to find it out. I've been back a month.

_Philo_

You'd better go down. I'm very busy, and I've had a long interruption this evening.

_Reba_

I'm going to interrupt some more. Dr. Seymour says it's good for you.

_Philo_ (_angrily_)

Dr. Seymour knows you've come?

_Reba_

Yes. He said you might like the surprise. Don't you like it, Philo?

(_Comes near him._ PHILO _turns away and busies himself about the table and shelves as if he meant to ignore her utterly._ REBA _watches him, then goes to window and takes a large apple from the ledge. Comes back._)

_Reba_

I brought you an apple--such a love of an apple. There's a whole summer of sunsets in it. I climbed the tree myself.

_Philo_ (_not looking_)

Thank you; I don't eat.

_Reba_

Don't eat! Well, there it is! (_Throws it on the table. He jumps to protect his instrument._) You can _lick_ it when you're hungry!

(_He sits down and begins to work. She walks to other side of table and picks up a book._)

_Reba_

Oh! Our old ”Swiss Family Robinson”! The very one we read together! With our names in it! You've kept it all the time! (_Hugging it._) Dear old book! (_Turns the leaves._) Why--the leaves are half gone!

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