with me--to-night?

KATE. How--go with you?

TRAVERS. As my wife.

KATE. But why such haste? Why go as if we feared anything?

TRAVERS. I must go to-night. Great interests depend upon it. I know
your people don't like me, but I haven't time to humour them. Will you
go?

KATE. Let me think till then.

TRAVERS. Yes,--good-bye till to-night. [_Holds her hand--she turns as
if to leave_.] Kate! Kate! Good-bye. [_Impulsive turn and embrace_.]
Till to-night.

_Enter_ DAVE, _from breakfast_.

DAVE. Huh! [_Shortly; more a chuck than an exclamation. The lovers
start_.] Oh! Seminary!

TRAVERS _exits_.

DAVE. [_Embarrassed--nodding off_.] Breakfast.

KATE. Thank you. [_Exits_.

DAVE. [_Going to bench and beginning work on shaft with draw knife_.]
Well--Lizbeth don't know so blamed much about books--[_Shakes head_.]
But--huh--[_Shakes head again_.] I tell you--[_Works hard--enter_
LIZBETH _with pan, which she puts on forge_.

DAVE. [_Commanding_.] Come here, Lizbeth.

LIZBETH. [_Crosses to_ DAVE. _Pause_.] What? [_Falling inflection_.

DAVE. [_Cautiously, approving her_.] Why, dog gone it--[_Shakes
head_.] Huh! [_Swaggers_.] I tell you--[_Works_.

LIZBETH. [_Wonderingly_.] What's the matter?

DAVE. [_Threatening_.] If you was to say seminary to me--[_Swaggers_.]
Huh! [_Works_.

LIZBETH. [_After pause_.] What?

DAVE. [_Ominously_.] Why, Lizbeth, the sooner we git married an' git
out o' this, the better.

LIZBETH. [_Hopelessly_.] Well, what kin I do?

DAVE. [_Working_.] Dog gone it--if I had a stidy job!

LIZBETH. [_Understandingly_.] I know that, Dave. [_Goes back to pan_.

DAVE. [_Bragging_.] An' you bet your _father_ knows it.

LIZBETH. [_Portentously_.] Well, I told _ma_--

DAVE. An' that's what he said. If I had a stidy job--

_Enter_ EM'LY.

EM'LY. Hello--

DAVE. Why, how de do?

LIZBETH. Can't you come in?

EM'LY. Who's there? [_Indicates kitchen_.

LIZBETH. Only the folks and Jim.

EM'LY. I want Jim--say--Sam's there. [_Off_.

LIZBETH. Sam Fowler!--Oh, ma--[_Exits_.

DAVE. Sam--why, see here. Sam! [_Goes up_.

SAM _enters. Wears express blue and a cap_.

EM'LY. [_Beckoning_.] Sam!

DAVE _brings_ SAM _down. Enter_ JOE, _followed by_ MRS. VERNON,
LIZBETH _and_ KATE.

JOE. [_Heartily_.] Sam, Sam, how are you?

SAM. [_Shaking hands_.] I didn't know how you'd feel about it.

MRS. VERNON. [_Shaking_.] Why, Lor', Sam--I'm glad--I'll bet Em'ly
kissed him.

KATE _and_ LIZBETH _s