Act 2 Summary

On a morning several months later, Kath enters the parlor to find Sloane lying on the sofa, taking a break from his work for Ed. Kath tries to encourage Sloane to return to his duties, but Sloane is none to eager to do so. Sloane seems to have the upper hand around the house these days, working whenever he feels like it. Kath reminds Sloane that Ed has the young man's best interests at heart, but this information does not inspire the young man to get up from the sofa and return to his duties.

Kath - now referring to herself frequently in the third-person as his "mamma" - questions Sloane about his activities the night before, when he came in late. She worries that he's running with a rough crowd. Sloane declares that the boys he runs with are "gentle" and "refined...