The Naturewoman | Page 5

thinking for himself . . .
he says the law's a cheat.
MRS. MASTERSON. Yes, I know . . . I've heard all that. And here we
are, just at this critical moment, when the girl is coming, and when he
ought to be advising us about that will.
DR. MASTERSON. It seems to me, my dear, you've managed to
choose your course without his aid. [A pause.] I hope we shan't have to
get into any quarrel with Oceana.
MRS. MASTERSON. We shall not if I can help it, Quincy.

LETITIA. We simply intend to be firm, father.
MRS. MASTERSON. We intend to make it clear that we are going to
stand by our legal rights. With no hard feelings for her personally . . .
ETHEL. [Rising from chair.] Mother!
MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel!
ETHEL. Mother, this has gone just as far as it can go! I've felt all along
that something like this was preparing.
MRS. MASTERSON. My dear . . .
ETHEL. Mother, this concerns me as much as it concerns any one of
you. And I tell you, you have simply got to let me know about that will.
MRS. MASTERSON. My dear . . .
ETHEL. Do I understand that it is your intention to threaten to go to
law, unless Oceana gives us a part of grandfather's property?
MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel, I refuse . . .
DR. MASTERSON. You might as well tell the child, Sophronia. It's
perfectly certain, Ethel, that your grandfather was not of sound mind
when he made the will.
ETHEL. It's perfectly certain that he hated you and mother and Aunt
Letitia and me and Freddy . . . every one of us; and that he had hated us
for years and years; and that he left his money to Oceana to spite us all.
MRS. MASTERSON. That's precisely it, Ethel . . .
ETHEL. And I, for one, knowing that he hated me, don't want his
money. And what is more, I refuse to touch his money.
DR. MASTERSON. Not being of age, my dear, you can't . . .

ETHEL. I am near enough of age to possess my self-respect. And I
shall refuse to touch one penny.
DR. MASTERSON. My child, there are a good many pennies in a half
million dollars.
MRS. MASTERSON. And when you are of age, Ethel, you'll
appreciate . .
ETHEL. I shall be of age two years from now, and then I shall return to
Oceana every penny of grandfather's money that may have been gotten
for me.
LETITIA. Ethel!
MRS. MASTERSON. It seems to me this is a strange way for a young
girl to be speaking to her parents!
ETHEL. I can't help it, mother. I am meek and patient . . . I try to let
you have your way with me in everything. But this is a matter of
principle, and I can't let myself be sat on.
MRS. MASTERSON. Sat on! Is that your view of your mother's
attitude towards you?
ETHEL. You know, perfectly well, mother; that it's impossible for
anybody to preserve any individuality in contact with you . . . that as a
matter of fact, neither father nor Letitia nor Freddy nor myself have
preserved a shred of it. Grandfather said that to you himself, the last
time you ever saw him . . . I know it, for I've heard father say it a
hundred times.
DR. MASTERSON. Well!
MRS. MASTERSON. It seems to me there's more than a trace of
individuality in this present outburst, Ethel.
ETHEL. Yes, but it's the first time, mother.

LETITIA. Some one is coming. [Turns to door.] Oh! Henry!
HENRY. [Enters; a handsome, powerfully-built man; smooth shaven,
immaculate, reserved in manner.] Well, has the sea-witch arrived?
MRS. MASTERSON. Not yet.
DR. MASTERSON. Freddy's gone to meet her with the limousine.
HENRY. I see. And the steamer?
MRS. MASTERSON. It was to have docked two hours ago.
HENRY. Well, that means that I won't see her till tomorrow evening.
I've got to run down to Providence to-night.
LETITIA. What's the matter?
HENRY. Nothing important . . . just a business matter that requires my
presence. Make my apologies; and goodbye, my dear.
[Kisses LETITIA.]
LETITIA. Henry, I wish you'd wait a moment.
HENRY. What for, my dear?
LETITIA. Mother has something to say . . .
MRS. MASTERSON. I want to talk to you about this idea of going to
the country in the winter-time.
HENRY. Oh! There's no use talking about that, Mrs. Masterson. I see I
can't have my way, so there's no more to be said. I'm not the sort of
man to sulk.
MRS. MASTERSON. But such an idea, Henry! For a delicate woman
like Letitia . . .

HENRY. I know . . . I