HAMILTON
47
Schuyler.
[Mutters.] You can't live without food. What's the use
[Enter Woman with baby in her arms. She comes from the hall; the street door is closed. Zekiel half closes the room door and remains in the room holding the doorknob. Woman has a state certificate in her hand.
Hamilton.
What can I do for you?
[Up stage centre, l. of Woman.
Woman.
[Coming to r. c.] Are you Colonel Hamilton?
Hamilton.
Yes. [Pulling the chair he was sitting on.] Sit down. [She sits.] What is it?
Woman.
My husband is Zackery Whalen, sir. He fought in the war, sir. He's a cripple and can't work. He fought under you, sir. It was that winter at Valley Forge—his feet froze so many times, sir. He's on a pension, but we can't get the money.
Hamilton.
Can't get it from your state?
Woman.
We sometimes get it, but not lately at all—only promises, sir. You see, ours is due from Rhode Island. If it had been Virginia or New Hampshire,
