14
CRAIG’S WIFE
- But, after all, simply being settled isn’t everything, Ethel—a girl can be a great deal worse off being settled than when she was unsettled. And, personally, I can’t conceive of being very much worse off than married to a college professor—stuck away in some dreadful place like Poughkeepsie or Northampton—with not a ten-cent piece to bless yourself with—unless you used your own money. I’m constantly reading agitations in the newspapers about the poor pay of college professors. And your marrying one of them will hardly improve the situation. (She flips the bag back on to the table, and moves forward to a small ornamental bench in front of the center table, where she kneels) Did you accept this man when he asked you?
Ethel
- Practically, yes. We’d rather thought of being married sometime during the summer.
Mrs. Craig
- Then, you mean you’re engaged to him?
Ethel
- Yes. I knew Mother liked him, for she said so. The only thing was, she wanted me to be sure that I liked him.
Mrs. Craig
- Well, that’s all very nice, Ethel, but simply liking a man isn’t going to go very far toward keeping things going, is it?
Ethel
- Well, I have money of my own, Aunt Harriet.
Mrs. Craig
- I know that, dear child, but surely he isn’t marrying you because of that?
