Why did eben not like the presence of abbine in the house in the first part of the play desire under the elms play?

The interior of the parlor is like a tomb. Abbie is dressed in her best clothes, but no longer appears confident and wily. Eben enters, and muses how he feels Maw in here. Abbie feels it too. She says the presence likes her, but Eben says his Maw would hate her for stealing her place.