o, Joe, but since this feller's been in
town--[_Slowly crosses and sits on table._

MRS. VERNON. Pshaw--I'll bet that mustach of his'n is dyed.

JOE. Don't think about him, Jim, 'cause, if it comes to that, I'll put
my foot down.

JIM. Not if Kate liked him.

JOE. Yes, no matter who liked him.

JIM. But I'd want her to like me.

JOE. Well, she does.

JIM. You think so.

JOE. Sure.

JIM. Dog gone it! I'd swap my poney for a trottin' horse, an' git one
of them two-wheeled carts an' practice in it till I wasn't seasick,
and me an' Kate of a Sunday--say--driving through Bowling Green!

MRS. VERNON. [_Grinning in admiration._] Why, Jim!

JIM. [_Growing with his vision._] An' I'd run that south pyazza all
around the house,--and dog gone it--_we'd have a hired girl._

MRS. VERNON. [_Starting something._] That's the way to treat a woman,
Joe Vernon, an' if you hadn't been brought up in Galloway County--

JOE. [_Completing._] Why, Jim, when we was fust married she was so
jealous we couldn't _keep_ a hired girl.

MRS. VERNON. [_Waving a hand at him._] I've got bravely over it. You
kin _git_ one now.

JOE. Well--we don't need one _now_.

_Enter_ KATE.

KATE. No, I'm not offended, Lizbeth, but it isn't kind.

JOE. What's the matter?

LIZBETH _and_ DAVE _appear outside of door and disappear slowly._

KATE. Nothing. [_Crossing right of rocker._] Jim--

JIM. Katie.

KATE. You and father are trying for the Legislature? [JIM _nods._] A
nomination in this county is as good as an election, isn't it?

JOE. [_Explaining._] On our ticket.

JIM _nods._

KATE. You have been very kind to me--kinder than any man I
know--you've stood up for me; and you've given me lots of handsome
presents--

JIM. Well?--

KATE. You have been very kind--I like your sister Emily--as well as if
she were my _own_ sister--but Joe Vernon's my _father_--he's an older
man than you are--

MRS. VERNON. [_Butting in._] Well, if he wasn't--KATE. Wait, mother--
[_To JIM._] I shall work for him. [JIM _nods._] In every possible
way--I know a good many of these delegates--I know their wives--I
shall see them.

JIM. [_Pause._] Does politics make any difference to you, Kate?

KATE. His election does. It means a step out of this life, a breath
away from the shop--it means a broader horizon for me--[_Turns away,
overcome by her feelings._

JIM. [_Pause._] Well, Joe--I went in this thing to _win_--

JOE. Don't mind her, Jim.

JIM. I wen