Vir. O, 'tis too sweet to be true! How have I won you, Edgar?

Poe. By beauty, that speaks loudest when most silent. (Mrs.
Clemm meets them) God bless you, aunt. I see 'yes' in your
eyes. You could not deny me.

Mrs. C. No.

Poe. Run, Virginia, and put on your fairy's dress! I want you
to look as if you were leaping out of a flower into my
heart! (Virginia goes in) O this beautiful world! Just to
live, my aunt! Is it not enough? Literature is disease!
The sick-robe of the soul! Who can write that does not
_live_--and who that _lives_ would write! But I must do
it--I must work for her. Not a wind shall blow upon my
Virginia! I will find the fairy paths for her feet! Not a
satyr shall leer from the wood! She will be ready soon. I
shall wait for her in the orchard. I would not see her
again until she is mine--all mine!

(Exit, left, singing)

'Come, Apollo's pipes are merry--'

(Mrs. Clemm goes in)

Zu. (Rising) I don' reckon it make no difference 'bout dis
heah bush now! (Goes to side door and sits on step
disconsolately. The girls come running back)

Mabel. Here's the finest cherry on the tree for the prettiest
mouth! Open, who gets it! (Girls open their mouths. Mabel
eats cherry)

Gertrude.
O, vanity!

Mab. No, I just took it for Virginia.

Annie. Let's play _Ant'ny Over_ while we're waiting! Where's a
ball? Bony, get a ball!

Bony. Can't do it, missis! Y'all los' it las' time yo's all
here!

Dora. _Marlow Bright_ then! Half with me and half with Mabel!
(Girls divide, the two companies taking opposite bases
some distance apart)

Dora. Marlow, marlow, marlow bright!
How many miles to the old turnpike?

Mab. Three score and ten!

Dora. Can we get there by candle light?

Mab. Yes, if your toes are tripping light!

Dora. Any robbers on the way?

Mab. Three blind witches, so they say,
And Robin Hood with all his _men_!

(With the last word the girls exchange bases, the
travellers, with Dora, trying to reach the opposite
base without being caught by the robbers with Mabel.
Virginia comes to the door of cottage)

Annie. T