He’d kill me--sho’ as yo’ bawn! Yo’ see--yo’ see, his time was’n’ up fo’ mos’ anoder yeah. Him a’ me ain’ nevah had no luck an’ I did’n’t calc’late he’d git out befo’. I--I was gwine ter git ready an’ move in ’bout six mon’s. Den I was gwine ter writ ter de Warden--or de keeper--or somebody like dat an’ git dem ter tell him whar I move ter. (_Moving about agitatedly._) Ef he only knowed what I been up agin! I--I promised him I would’n’ look at anabody else while he was gone. Ef I’d--a had any kin’a-luck nuffin’ ’ud make me break it. I loves Sam. I loves him bettah den anathin’ in de worl’. He knows I does. (_A moment’s pause. Her eyes rove space._) Las’ wintah I could’n’ git nuffin’ much ter do--dat is nuffin’ dat pay me much money--an’ I had trouble rentin’ dat room--. (_She pauses for a moment, and drops her eyes, then goes on slowly._) Chick Avery comes ’roun’--yo’ know--an’ I let’s him stay yere--(_She pauses again, and then points at the baby._) Dat’s his chile. AUNT REBECCA (_in heartfelt sympathy_) Yo’ po’, po’ honey! LUCY BELLE W’en me an’ Sam fust met up he says, “Lucy Belle, I don’ care nuffin’ at all ’bout w’at yo’ done fo’ I knowed yo’. Dat’s all pas’ an’ gone an’ somefin’ we ain’ gwine ter boder our haids ’bout.” (_She stares into space with tragic eyes._) But--but he tol’ me onct dat ef I evah had anathin’ ter do wid anoder niggah he’d kill me. AUNT REBECCA He ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’ like dat! Don’ yo’ worry! LUCY BELLE (_with a faint, wistful smile_) He’s de onlies’ niggah dat evah done anathin’ much fo’ me. Mah own Sam-boy, baby buddy! (_She stares abstractedly into space for a moment or two._) An’--an’ yo’ see he’s comin’ right back ter me--now he’s out. AUNT REBECCA Yas, indeedy! I reckon he is! LUCY BELLE (_clenching her hands_) Oh, Gawd! AUNT REBECCA Nevah yo’ min’, honey. Yo’ ain’ got nuffin’ ter worry ’bout. LUCY BELLE Sam nevah boder his haid ’bout oder gals--not since he know me--’cept ole Lizzie Gibbs fo’ a lil’ while--(_Fearfully._) Dat’s de onlies’ thin’ I’se scar’t of--is dat niggahs will lie an’ blackguard on me! AUNT REBECCA (_indicating the baby_) Who all know yo’ got dis yere chile? LUCY BELLE Only two or free people yere in Goat Alley--an’ Slim an’ Mag an’ yo’. Mag’s mah frien’ ovah in Anacostia. AUNT REBECCA Ef I did’n’ have dem gran’chillen I’d keep de baby fo’ yo’. LUCY BELLE No, no! Would’n’ wan’ yo’ ter do nuffin’ like dat. AUNT REBECCA W’at yo’ calc’late yo’ do? LUCY BELLE I don’ know, I don’ know! I kin take him ovah ter Mag’s--but even ef I does--she kain’t keep him long--an’--(_Pacing about agitatedly._) I--I’se got ter do somefin’ quick! (_In anguish._) I ain’ done no mo’ den oder gals--an’--an’--Sam got ter fo’give me! (_A knock sounds on the door, Back. Lucy Belle starts._) LUCY BELLE (_in low tones to Aunt Rebecca_) Take him in dere. (_She points off, Left._) (_Aunt Rebecca rises with the baby and goes out hurriedly, Left._) LUCY BELLE (_as Aunt Rebecca leaves_)