MAYO. (_after a pause--frowning_) I hope her and Andy ain’t had a serious fallin’-out. I always sorter hoped they’d hitch up together sooner or later. What d’you say, Dick? Don’t you think them two’d pair up well? SCOTT. (_nodding his head approvingly_) A sweet, wholesome couple they’d make. MAYO. It’d be a good thing for Andy in more ways than one. I ain’t what you’d call calculatin’ generally, and I b’lieve in lettin’ young folks run their affairs to suit themselves; but there’s advantages for both o’ them in this match you can’t overlook in reason. The Atkins farm is right next to ourn. Jined together they’d make a jim-dandy of a place, with plenty o’ room to work in. And bein’ a widder with only a daughter, and laid up all the time to boot, Mrs. Atkins can’t do nothin’ with the place as it ought to be done. She needs a man, a first-class farmer, to take hold o’ things; and Andy’s just the one. MRS. MAYO. (_abruptly_) I don’t think Ruth loves Andy. MAYO. You don’t? Well, maybe a woman’s eyes is sharper in such things, but--they’re always together. And if she don’t love him now, she’ll likely come around to it in time. (_As_ MRS. MAYO _shakes her head_) You seem mighty fixed in your opinion, Katey. How d’you know? MRS. MAYO. It’s just--what I feel. MAYO. (_a light breaking over him_) You don’t mean to say--(MRS. MAYO _nods_. MAYO _chuckles scornfully_) Shucks! I’m losin’ my respect for your eyesight, Katey. Why, Robert ain’t got no time for Ruth, ’cept as a friend! MRS. MAYO. (_warningly_) Sss-h-h! (_The door from the yard opens, and_ ROBERT _enters. He is smiling happily, and humming a song to himself, but as he comes into the room an undercurrent of nervous uneasiness manifests itself in his bearing_). MAYO. So here you be at last! (ROBERT _comes forward and sits on_ ANDY’S _chair_. MAYO _smiles slyly at his wife_) What have you been doin’ all this time--countin’ the stars to see if they all come out right and proper? ROBERT. There’s only one I’ll ever look for any more, Pa. MAYO. (_reproachfully_) You might’ve even not wasted time lookin’ for that one--your last night. MRS. MAYO. (_as if she were speaking to a child_) You ought to have worn your coat a sharp night like this, Robbie. SCOTT. (_disgustedly_) God A’mighty, Kate, you treat Robert as if he was one year old! MRS. MAYO. (_notices_ ROBERT’S _nervous uneasiness_) You look all worked up over something, Robbie. What is it?