MAYO. (_with an air of decision_) Andy’s right, Katey. That ends all argyment, you can see that. (_Looking at his big silver watch_) Wonder what’s happened to Robert? He’s been gone long enough to wheel the widder to home, certain. He can’t be out dreamin’ at the stars his last night. MRS. MAYO. (_a bit reproachfully_) Why didn’t you wheel Mrs. Atkins back tonight, Andy? You usually do when she and Ruth come over. ANDREW. (_avoiding her eyes_) I thought maybe Robert wanted to tonight. He offered to go right away when they were leaving. MRS. MAYO. He only wanted to be polite. ANDREW. (_gets to his feet_) Well, he’ll be right back, I guess. (_He turns to his father_) Guess I’ll go take a look at the black cow, Pa--see if she’s ailing any. MAYO. Yes--better had, son. (ANDREW _goes into the kitchen on the right_). SCOTT. (_as he goes out--in a low tone_) There’s the boy that would make a good, strong sea-farin’ man--if he’d a mind to. MAYO. (_sharply_) Don’t you put no such fool notions in Andy’s head, Dick--or you ’n’ me’s goin’ to fall out. (_Then he smiles_) You couldn’t tempt him, no ways. Andy’s a Mayo bred in the bone, and he’s a born farmer, and a damn good one, too. He’ll live and die right here on this farm, like I expect to. (_With proud confidence_) And he’ll make this one of the slickest, best-payin’ farms in the state, too, afore he gits through! SCOTT. Seems to me it’s a pretty slick place right now. MAYO. (_shaking his head_) It’s too small. We need more land to make it amount to much, and we ain’t got the capital to buy it. (ANDREW _enters from the kitchen. His hat is on, and he carries a lighted lantern in his hand. He goes to the door in the rear leading out_). ANDREW. (_opens the door and pauses_) Anything else you can think of to be done, Pa? MAYO. No, nothin’ I know of. (ANDREW _goes out, shutting the door_). MRS. MAYO. (_after a pause_) What’s come over Andy tonight, I wonder? He acts so strange. MAYO. He does seem sort o’ glum and out of sorts. It’s ’count o’ Robert leavin’, I s’pose. (_To_ SCOTT) Dick, you wouldn’t believe how them boys o’ mine sticks together. They ain’t like most brothers. They’ve been thick as thieves all their lives, with nary a quarrel I kin remember. SCOTT. No need to tell me that. I can see how they take to each other. MRS. MAYO. (_pursuing her train of thought_) Did you notice, James, how queer everyone was at supper? Robert seemed stirred up about something; and Ruth was so flustered and giggly; and Andy sat there dumb, looking as if he’d lost his best friend; and all of them only nibbled at their food. MAYO. Guess they was all thinkin’ about tomorrow, same as us. MRS. MAYO. (_shaking her head_) No. I’m afraid somethin’s happened--somethin’ else. MAYO. You mean--’bout Ruth? MRS. MAYO. Yes.