Israel, son--hush! Yo’ yere me--? Mamma’s gwine ter be all right. Fanny! Git me glass-a watah. (_The girl hesitates._) Go on! Quick! (_Fanny runs off, Left._) ISRAEL (_crying_) Mamma! Yo’--yo’ gwine ter die? LUCY BELLE No, no! Hush up! (_He clings to her sobbingly. Fanny enters, Left, with the glass of water and hurries to her mother’s side._) LUCY BELLE (_to Israel_) Son! Mamma gwine ter beat yo’ ef yo’ don’ stop! FANNY Yere, Mamma! (_The child hands Lucy Belle the glass of water. She drinks it slowly._) LUCY BELLE (_half to herself_) Gawd, dat tas’ good. (_She gradually revives. At length, as she sets the glass on the table._) Listen ter me, yo’ chillen. Wan’ yo’ bof ter run up ter Moy Wing’s. Yo’ yere me? (_They nod._) Run up dere--an’ tell him dat Mamma gwine ter be late. Go ahaid, now. Beat it! (_They hang back, still sobbing._) Go on! (_They run to the door, Back._) Say dat he--he bettah git somebody ter he’p me out--! Understan’--? FANNY Yassum. LUCY BELLE Beat it now! (_They go out, Back, closing the door after them. Lucy Belle, weak and completely unnerved, sits staring tragically before her. At length a knock sounds on the door, Back._) LUCY BELLE (_half turning and speaking in still feeble tones_) Come in! (_The door opens and Chick Avery enters. Lucy Belle struggles to her feet._) CHICK Back agin--! LUCY BELLE Oh--er--! Did’n’ take yo’ long--. CHICK No rooms at de Gran’ Imperial. Gwine on out ter mah broder’s. (_He directs a fascinated gaze at her for a brief interval, as though half-tempted to make another ardent and forcible appeal. He thinks better of it, however, and starts to reach for the suit case._) LUCY BELLE (_in tremulous, half-hysterical tones_) Chick--! CHICK (_straightening up_) Yas--? LUCY BELLE Reckon yo’ kin have dat room. CHICK (_incredulously_) W’at--? LUCY BELLE I--I’ll rent it ter yo’. CHICK (_as though he could hardly believe his ears_) Luce--! (_She half turns away from him and gazes before her with a face full of woe._) CURTAIN ACT III _The same as Act II--a year and a half later._ _It is early evening and the lamp on the table is lighted. The chimney is badly smoked and the guttering flames cast eerie shadows about on the walls._ _Aunt Rebecca is discovered seated to Right of table. Lucy Belle is seated near her, Right Center, and is noticeably thinner and more wan than in the preceding act. On the floor at her side sits a large basket, full of washing and on a chair nearby lies her coat and hat._ _The imposing cupboard which formerly stood against the wall, Left, and the large easy chair are missing._ LUCY BELLE ’Deed, we done miss yo’ while yo’s sick. AUNT REBECCA (_shaking her head_) Don’ wan’ no mo’ spells like dat. LUCY BELLE No, indeedy! I reckon not. AUNT REBECCA Been six yeahs since rheumetiz took me down like dat. LUCY BELLE Git yo’ hard w’en it do. AUNT REBECCA ’Deed it do, ’deed it do!