As she does so her eye is arrested by a little
old-fashioned hour-glass standing upon the table from which the tea-tray
has been taken, the sands of which are still running_.)
JULIA (_softly, almost to herself_). Oh, but how strange! That was
Martha's. Is Martha coming too? (_She picks up the glass, looks at it,
and sets it down again_)
LAURA (_who is examining the china on a side-table)._ Why, I declare,
Julia! Here is your Dresden that was broken--without a crack in it!
JULIA. No, Laura, it was yours that was broken.
LAURA. It was _not_ mine; it was yours...Don't you remember _I_
broke it?
JULIA. When you broke it you said it was mine. Until you broke it, you
said it was yours.
LAURA. Very well, then: as you wish. It isn't broken now, and it's mine.
JULIA. That's satisfactory. I get my own back again. It's the better one.
(ENTER _Hannah with a telegram on a salver._)
HANNAH (_in a low voice of mystery_). A telegram, Ma'am.
(_Julia opens it. The contents evidently startle her, but she retains
her presence of mind_)
JULIA. No answer.
(EXIT _Hannah_)
JULIA. Laura, Martha is coming!
LAURA. Here? Well, I wonder how she has managed that!
(_Her sister hands her the telegram, which she reads.)_
'Accident. Quite safe. Arriving by the 6.30.' Why, it's after that now!
JULIA (_sentimentally)._ Oh, Laura, only think! So now we shall be
all together again.
LAURA. Yes, I suppose we shall.
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