Mus’ live in peace--an’ de presence ob de sparit ob de Lawd! LUCY BELLE Mistah Pocher--! POCHER (_turning and speaking in fierce tones as he reaches the door_) Hush yo’ talk! Done made up mah min’ ter leave dis place! Nuffin’ gwine ter stop me! LUCY BELLE (_pulling herself together and speaking in resigned tones_) Ef--ef yo’ feels dat way ’bout it--I reckon dey ain’ no use. POCHER I sen’ mah nephew--Joe Davis--’roun’ fo’ mah organ. LUCY BELLE All right. POCHER Reckon he’ll come ’roun’ termorrer wid his wagon. LUCY BELLE Gwine ter pay me? POCHER Pay yo’ fo’ w’at? LUCY BELLE Yo’ been yere free days dis week. (_He glares at her, gives a snort, drops the portmanteau, thrusts a hand down in his pocket and brings out a small, soiled bag, tied at the top with a string. He unties the string, fumbles around in the bag, finally pulls out a dirty, torn one-dollar bill._) POCHER (_holding it out to her_) Yere. LUCY BELLE (_advancing and taking it_) T-thanks. Might--mighty sorry yo’ gwine off--like dis. (_Pocher gives an impatient grunt and mumbles something to himself. He returns the bag to his pocket, picks up his portmanteau and opens the door._) LUCY BELLE Goodbye. POCHER (_shortly_) Goodbye. (_He goes out, Back, closing the door after him._) (_Lucy Belle gives a little despairing sigh, then returns slowly to Center, where she halts and stands staring--somewhat abstractedly--down at the bill in her hand. Slim appears at the window, Left Back, and peers in. At length Lucy Belle goes to the cupboard on the Left, opens one of the top doors, removes the lid from a crockery jar, reaches down in it, and takes out her pocket book. She opens the pocket book, extracts three one dollar bills, counts them carefully, places the one she has just received with them and returns them all to the pocket book. Slim’s face disappears from the window, Left Back. Lucy Belle comes thoughtfully back to Center with the pocket book still in her hand. At this juncture Israel and Fanny dash in, Back._) ISRAEL Mamma! Mamma! LUCY BELLE W’at yo’ wan’ now? FANNY Mamma--! ISRAEL Mamma, I’se hangry! LUCY BELLE Did I call yo’? FANNY No, but-- LUCY BELLE Stay out dere an’ play till I calls yo’! FANNY I’se hangry! LUCY BELLE (_displaying the pocket book_) I’se gwine down ter de mawket in jes a minute. FANNY W’en we gwine ter have dinnah? LUCY BELLE (_impatiently_) Jes’ as soon as I kin cook it. ISRAEL Mamma--! LUCY BELLE (_angrily_) Shet up, now--bof-a yo’! Wan’ me ter lock yo’ up? (_Israel begins to whimper._) Yo’ yere me? Go on out dere an’ play! (_The children hesitate._) Go ’long! Wan’ me ter beat yo’? (_They both scamper to the door, Back._) Min’ yo’ don’ go out-a dis alley!