Copyright, 1909, by the author.
A Wife.
A Husband.
A Surgeon.
An Interne.
A Nurse.
Wife: Tell me about the children.
Husband: Oh, they are getting on--so, so.
Wife: I know they will.
Husband: But you should see them! (Turning toward her. She nods
without speaking.) They're trying hard to be good, but it's a stiff
pull for the little rascals. Well, I don't blame them. Freddie put me
in quite a hole the other day. "What's the use of being good when
mother's away?" he asked. (She smiles.) For the life of me I couldn't
think of an answer. What would you say?
Wife: I'd be as bad off as you were.
Husband: But Robert wasn't. He had an answer. "So mother will be
happy when she comes back," he said. Wasn't that good?
Wife: Just like Robert.
Husband: I don't know what we should have done without Robert. He
serves at the table. He answers the door and the telephone. He ties
the baby's bib. How he thinks of everything I don't know. I--I'm so
helpless. Why didn't you ever teach me to take charge of the house?
Wife: Fancy teaching you anything you didn't want to learn.
Husband (After a moment's deep silence): All the kiddies send you
their love.
Wife: Even Freddie?
Husband: Oh, Freddie, to be sure. Guess you know about what he's
doing. Upstairs and downstairs. Outdoors and in.
Wife: I hope he won't get hurt.
Husband: Trust him for that. But how do you keep him in aprons?
They're all dirty already. Yesterday he got all scratched up trying to
put Kitty to bed and make him say his prayers. He has fallen in the
flour bin, put the telephone out of commission, pulled the table-cloth
and dishes off the table. There isn't anything he hasn't done. Freddie
will welcome you back with a dish-pan band, when you come home.