You"d better go down, Hiram, and meet the doctors.
_Warner_
Alice"ll show them up.
_Mrs. W._
Where"s that strange smell comin" from? Do you work in the other room, too, Philo? (_Goes in, left._)
_Philo_
Father ... I"m sorry about the store ... I wish I could tell you ... but what"s the use? You won"t believe!
(_Re-enter_ MRS. W.)
_Mrs. W._
Gracious! I couldn"t breathe in there! Got to clear _something_ out before Reba comes up here. She"d have no respect for my housekeeping.
_Philo_
Reba?
_Mrs. W._
Reba Sloan. She"s been asking if she couldn"t come. She"s just wild to see your machine.
_Philo_
Don"t you ever let her up here, mother!
_Mrs. W._
But she asked me, Philo--and a neighbor"s daughter, you know----
_Philo_
I thought she was away from home.
_Mrs. W._
Been back a month--walks all about right under your eyes. You ought to be _civil_, Philo.
_Philo_
I want to see Dr. Seymour. I should like to have him know what I"m doing. But if you"re going to turn the whole village in here, I"ll bar the door, that"s all.
_Mrs. W._
My son, if you"d only interest yourself a little----
_Philo_
I"m not interested in anything nearer than thirty-five million miles!
_Warner_
What did I tell you, Mary Ann?
_Mrs. W._
I hear the doctors! Now, Philo, if you can"t talk sense, don"t say _anything_.
(_Enter_ SEYMOUR _and_ BELLOWS.)
_Bellows_
Good evening, Warner. How d" do, Mrs. Warner! My friend, Dr. Seymour.
_Warner and Mrs. W._
How do you do, sir!
_Bellows_
Philo, I"ve brought Dr. Seymour around to have a talk with you. He"s down from New York for a day or two. Been sleeping any better?
_Philo_
Too much. I need all my time. I"m very glad to see you, Dr. Seymour.
(_All take seats._)
_Mrs. W._
I hope you"ll excuse the looks of the room, doctor.
_Seymour_
It looks very interesting indeed to me, Mrs. Warner. The workshop of a student, and a busy one. (_To_ PHILO.) You"ve been working too hard, I see.
_Philo_
I"m tired, perhaps, but I am well. When a man makes a momentous discovery he is apt to be overwrought. He may not eat or sleep well for a time. He may even appear to be strange or mad.
(MRS. W. _coughs suddenly._)
_Mrs. W._