stinging you all night--

CURTIS--[A broad grin coming over his face.] You speak from
experience, eh?

BIGELOW--[Smiling.] You bet I do. Touch me anywhere and you'll
find a bite. This, my native town, did me the honor of devoting
its entire leisure attention for years to stinging me to death.

CURTIS--Well, if I am to believe one-tenth of the family letters I
used to receive on the subject of my old friend, Bigelow, they
sure had just cause.

BIGELOW--Oh, I'll play fair. I'll admit they did--then. But it's
exasperating to know they never give you credit for changing--I
almost said, reforming, One ought to be above the gossip of a town
like this--but say what you like, it does get under your skin.

CURTIS--[With an indulgent smile.] So you'd like to be known as a
reformed character, eh?

BIGELOW--[Rather ruefully.] Et tu! Your tone is sceptical. But I
swear to you, Curt, I'm an absolutely new man since my wife's
death, since I've grown to love the children. Before that I hardly
knew them. They were hers, not mine, it seemed. [His face lighting
up.] Now we're the best of pals, and I've commenced to appreciate
life from a different angle. I've found a career at last--the
children--the finest career a man could have, I believe.

CURTIS--[Indifferently.] Yes, I suppose so--if you're made that