Come in! (_The door, Back, opens and Lizzie Gibbs enters. She wears no hat and has a light shawl thrown over her shoulders._) LIZZIE (_slouching in_) ’Lo! LUCY BELLE (_starts back with a look of consternation_) ’Lo--! LIZZIE H’yo’--? LUCY BELLE (_brusquely_) Fine an’ dandy! LIZZIE I reckon yo’ is! Thought I’d fin’ yo’ flyin’ ’roun’ wid yo’ eyes poppin’ out-a yo’ haid. LUCY BELLE (_with studied complacency_) I don’ know w’at yo’ all talkin’ ’bout. LIZZIE (_with a loud, sarcastic laugh_) Ha! Ha! Ain’ got nuffin’ on yo’ min’--huh? LUCY BELLE (_defiantly_) Not a thin’! LIZZIE Good frien’ ob yo’s back in town. LUCY BELLE Now yo’ said somefin’. Who? LIZZIE (_darkly_) Dat’s right--preten’ yo’ don’ know nuffin’ ’bout it--yo’ damn lil’ hussy! LUCY BELLE (_hotly_) Don’ yo’ call me no hussy! LIZZIE Don’ yo’ stan’ up dere an’ tell me yo’ don’ know Sam Reed ain’ home. LUCY BELLE (_simulating great surprise_) Sam! No! Is yo’ seen him? LIZZIE (_mysteriously_) Ha! Ha! I guess he don’ fo’git ole frien’s. LUCY BELLE (_in sharp derision_) Huh! I bet yo’ ain’! I bet yo’ all I got yo’ ain’! LIZZIE Yo’ all got de idee yo’ got some kin’-a strangle hol’ on Sam, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE (_hotly_) I knows damn well he ain’ gwine ter fool ’roun’ an’ ole wench like yo’! LIZZIE (_menacingly_) Ef yo’ say anathin’ like dat agin I bus’ yo’ in de mouf! (_Lucy Belle gives an explosive, contemptuous laugh._) Lemme tell yo’, gal, I knows a thin’ or two ’bout yo’. LUCY BELLE Nuffin’ but w’at yo’ make up out-a yo’ own haid. LIZZIE Gawd knows, how many times I see yo’ on de street las’ wintah wid Chick Avery. LUCY BELLE (_angrily_) Yo’ nevah! Yo’ lie! LIZZIE (_with a savage laugh_) Oh, yas, yo’ lil’ angel face! Yo’ nevah done nuffin’ wrong in yo’ life! (_Darkly._) Lemme tell yo’ one thin’! Keep yo’ han’s off dat niggah--dis time! Ef I yere yo’ been foolin’ roun’ aftah him I’se gwine ter raise some hell. (_She turns toward the door, Back._) LUCY BELLE Yo’ won’ do nuffin’! LIZZIE (_wheeling around_) Ask anabody dat knows me ef I don’ allas make good! LUCY BELLE Yo’ ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’! LIZZIE (_at the door_) Ain’ I? Yo’ wait an’ see! I’se gwine ter make dat face-a yo’s look like a piece-a sausage. Don’ yo’ come tryin’ ter play any ob dat doll-baby bus’ness wid me! Ha! Ha! Yo’ damn lil’ hussy, yo’! (_She goes out, Back._) (_Lucy Belle stands gazing angrily after her. Aunt Rebecca enters, Left._) AUNT REBECCA Whew-me! Gawd-a-massy! Sweah out a warrant fo’ her! Go ’long! Don’ yo’ let no niggah blackguard yo’ like dat. LUCY BELLE I’ll git her mahse’f--an’ ef I don’, Sam will. (_Fiercely._) Some night I ketch her alone an’ knock her haid off! ’Deed, I’se gwine ter clean up fo’ her right! AUNT REBECCA Low down yallaw wench! LUCY BELLE (_with a little wail of despair_)