He has not seen her until now. He stands for a moment in
silence, looking at her with great tenderness and pride.]
PIKE [with both wonder and pathos in his voice]. Why, I knew your pa
from the time I was a little boy till he died, and I looked up to him
more'n I ever looked up to anybody in my life, but I never thought he'd
have a girl like you!
[She turns from him; he takes a short step nearer her.]
He'd 'a' been mighty proud if he could see you now.
ETHEL [quickly, and with controlled agitation]. Perhaps it will be as
well if we avoid personal allusions.
PIKE [mildly]. I don't see how that's possible.
ETHEL [sitting]. Will you please sit down?
PIKE. Yes, ma'am!
[ETHEL shivers at the "ma'am."]
[He sits in the chair which HORACE has occupied, still holding his hat
in his hand.]
ETHEL [tremulously, her eyes cast down]. As you know, I--I--
[She stops, as if afraid of breaking down; then, turning toward him,
cries sharply.]
Oh, are you _really_ my guardian?
PIKE [smiling]. Well, I've got the papers in my grip. I expect--
ETHEL. Oh, I KNOW it! It is only that we didn't fancy, we didn't
expect--
PIKE. I expect you thought I'd be considerable older.
ETHEL. Not only _that_--
PIKE [interrupting gently]. I expect you thought I'd neglected you a
good deal [remorsefully], and it _did_ LOOK like it--never comin' to see
you; but I couldn't hardly manage the time to get away.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51