Psychologically Speaking--Lucretia Govedare

Characters

Thomas Kent, a middle-aged, pompous man
Bessie Kent, his wife
Eve Kent, their daughter
Stephen Sloane, the boy next door
Professor Charles Waring, psychologist
Thelma, the maid
Time: Late afternoon
Place: The living room of the Kent home
Setting: The comfortable, well furnished living room of an American middle-class family, the Kents. As the curtain rises, Mrs. Kent is seated in a large armchair beside a table, sewing. Thelma is arranging flowers in a bowl on the table. Puts them in, stands back, looks at them, takes them out, rearranges them. Repeats several times.

Mrs. Kent: (sternly) Oh, stop that, Thelma! I declare, you make me nervous, fussing and wasting time like that. What is it? I know you want something, or you wouldn't fool around so. Out with it.
Thelma: (Embarrassed, smiles, twists her apron and wriggles her shoulders.) Well, ma'am; I, well, it's this way. There's a dance up at Crosby's barn tonight, and Bill Fox, you know him, ma'am, he works in Paxley's garage he's asked me to go.
Mrs. Kent: (Stops sewing, looks at Thelma, speaks slowly.) We-ll, I don't know. (Pause.) About this Bill Fox, Thelma, are you sure he's genteel?
Thelma: (shocked) Genteel, ma'am? Why, he's that delicate-like —
Mrs. Kent: How so, Thelma?
Thelma: (shyly) Well, he gave his mother a new coat last Christmas — but he wouldn't think of giving me anything so personal-like.
Mrs. Kent: Indeed. What did he give you?

Thelma: (proudly) He gave me a set of books called Greek Myth — mythic — mythiologgio, that's it! It's all about a tribe of people who lived in most peculiar places — like in the air, and under the sea — (Shakes her head.) Oh, I'd never believe a word of it if Bill hadn't given it to me!
Mrs. Kent: (Laughs.) That makes him perfectly respectable, Thelma, does it?
Thelma: (enthusiastically) Oh, yes, ma'am! I wouldn't go out with him, unless he was — not when I'm working for you. (Puts hand over mouth to stifle laugh.)
Mrs. Kent: Ok, (airily) Go along to the dance then, but see you behave yourself properly!
Thelma: Oh, yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am.
(Starts toward door, when it opens and Eve enters. Thelma stops, stares, pretends to pick up threads from floor, straightens chairs, etc., in order to remain.)