(_The woods adjoining the Big Lake, near Verdigree Switch, Indian Territory, 1906. It is Spring. Vines creep on the trees just putting out their green. The ground is soft with dead leaves, among which grow the earliest flowers. A fallen log lies in a tangle of last year’s briars. It is the grayness of morning. Color is beginning to show in the East, where the lake lies, and as the light grows the lake shines through the leaves._ LLOYD _and_ BETTY _come from the left, softly over the matted earth. They are very young._ LLOYD _is tall, dark; he has black hair; his face is sensitive; he wears rough shoes, dark trousers, and a pale blue shirt._ BETTY’S _hair is yellow. She has let it down. It frames her white, delicate face. Her dress is a coarse dark slip._) LLOYD It’s been s’ gray. BETTY It’s gettin’ lighter. LLOYD It’s been s’ gray. But now it’s gettin’ lighter and lighter—even to clear back here in the woods. BETTY (_softly_) I c’n feel the dawn. LLOYD _I_ c’n feel the dawn. I c’n _see_ the dawn! Look! Through the trees! Whur the lake’s at! The Big Lake’s a-shinin’ like a tub full o’ soap-suds! I’m glad we come. Ain’t you, Betty? BETTY I’m glad we come early. LLOYD I’m glad we come. (_They stand a moment breathless at the beauty before them._) Le’s set down. (_They sit at left._) The horse is tied up. Grub’s safe in the buggy. Miss Meredith ’n’ the rest of ’em won’t be here fer a long time yit. BETTY They’ll be here, though. LLOYD Yeow, but it’ll be a long time. Won’t Miss Meredith be supprised to find us here ahead of everbody? It was _my_ idee. She’ll think we’re purty smart. BETTY How many’s comin’? LLOYD