face--purtier than them pictures they put in the
cigar-boxes--and her hands soft and baby-like--I feel 'way down here
that I helped do some of that. An' do you think, Joe Vernon, that I'd
sell out? No, sir, not by a damned sight!

JOE. But look here, Jim, think of me. We're going in that convention
together--agin each other--for the same office, and if you was to
tell--

JIM. [_Sharp turn._] _Tell!_ Don't move--but jus' draw breath enough
to take that back.

JOE. [_Putting out his hand._] Jim!

JIM. [_Pause._] Why, if anybody'd said you could a _thought_ them
things!

JOE. [_Pleadingly._] _Jim!_

JIM. [_Long pause._] Well, there--[_Takes_ JOE'S _hand._

_Enter_ MRS. VERNON.

MRS. VERNON. [_Nervously._] Joe, I've a notion to holler to Kate to
run home. I don't like her walkin' with that man.

JOE. What man?

MRS. VERNON. Why, Travers. I don't know what Kate sees in him.
[_Returns to door._

JIM. [_Comfortingly._] Well, he's a city chap, and Kate's so smart
about them things. Joe, how old is Kate?

JOE. Twenty, ain't she, ma?

MRS. VERNON. [_In street door._] Lor, no--we ain't been _married_ but
nineteen.

JOE. Seems longer'n that to me.

JIM _looks at him, crossing to melodeon, shaking head._

JIM. How old is she, Mrs. Vernon?

MRS. VERNON. They's fourteen months difference 'tween her an' Lizbeth.

JIM _looks at_ JOE _again._

JIM. Well, I've knowed her so long, she always seems jes' a little
child to me--but Kate's old enough to be thinkin' o' gettin' married,
ain't she?

MRS. VERNON. I was mother of two young uns when I was as old as Kate.

JIM _looks at_ JOE _again._ JOE _is a mixture of pride and apology._

JIM. [_Leans over back of chair._] You know, if I had my way, I'd like
Kate to see _everything_. Go to St. Louis, and Europe, an' travel.
I've often thought I'd like to be well enough off to take Kate an'
jes' do nothin' but travel for a whole summer.

MRS. VERNON. Oh, folks'd talk about it, Jim.

JIM. Why, I mean married--if Kate'd have me.

MRS. VERNON. Oh!

JOE. [_Explainingly._] Of course--'fore they started.

JIM _looks at_ JOE _in amused disgust._

JIM. An' you know, Mrs. Vernon, I've had it on the tip of my tongue a
dozen times to ask her.

MRS. VERNON. [_Reflectively._] Well,--it might be the best thing that
could happen to her. [_Pause._] Kate's been awful restless lately.

JOE. [_Heartily._] An' she likes you, Jim, better'n anybody.

JIM. Why, I used to think s