Yes, it’s all on the sofy. GRANNY Den I goes to primp up an’ mek ready to receive. PEARL Yes, it’s only perlite to put on ouah best to meet the husband. GRANNY I dresses fer none but de chile. [_She goes slowly out at left._] PEARL [_Calling._] Betteh lay down fust, they won’t be here for two hour yet. I’ll be there pres’n’ly. [_She continues to bestir herself about the room and then starts to follow GRANNY. There is a faint tap at the door at right. PEARL stops and listens. The tapping is repeated. She goes and opens the door. A young woman, looking much like PEARL and of about the same age, but gaudily dressed and carrying a baby, stands in the doorway._] PEARL [_With a half-smothered exclamation._] Sapphie! [_SAPPHIE motions her to be silent and softly, fearfully enters the room._] SAPPHIE [_In a low voice._] Wheah Granny Maumee? PEARL She in the baid-room fixin’ up. Wheah’s youah husband? SAPPHIE [_After a pause._] He—didn’—come— PEARL Oh, that’s too bad, but it’s good to see you, and let’s see the baby. SAPPHIE [_Drawing back with the swathed and veiled child._] Not yet. PEARL Oh, he’s asleep, of course. SAPPHIE [_Pointing to doorway through which GRANNY passed._] Shut the door. PEARL [_Obeying wonderingly._] Well, hit do look good to see you ergin, Sapphie. Hit don’t seem like er yeah now sence you lef’ home. Does youah husband tek you to pictuh shows? SAPPHIE Puhl, what’s Granny Maumee like now, is she failed any? Is she fie’ce as eveh ’bout the burnin’ and the w’ite mens? PEARL Why, of course she is. She don’t neveh change f’um year ter year. Come on, let’s see baby. What youah husband’s name? You nevah sent us wu’d what youah new name was. SAPPHIE That’s what I want to see you for before Granny Maumee comes out. Come here. [_She lifts a veil from the child’s face._] PEARL [_Peering eagerly forward and then starting back._] W’ite! SAPPHIE [_Breathlessly._] How’ll she take hit? What’ll she do? I’m scared of her. PEARL A light-head merlatter! So youah husband didn’t come ’cause they ain’t no husband. Who’s the man? SAPPHIE You know wheah I work. PEARL Lightfoot! SAPPHIE He des would have his way. PEARL So, he took you off to town with him, did he, and that’s how come you have the luck to go. I praise King Jesus he kept me f’um such luck. SAPPHIE How’ll she take hit? PEARL Take hit! Does you spose we can take’n tell her? Thank my Makeh she’s blind. It’s the mussy of Gawd her eyes was swiveled in w’ite man’s fire before she see the w’ite man mix with her blood. You— SAPPHIE Oh, I don’t care what you calls me if you’ll only help me and keep Granny Maumee off’n me and baby. PEARL It’s only helpin’ to keep us all from ’struction that I’ll keep it from her. SAPPHIE What you think she’d do if she found out? PEARL I don’t know. Sometimes when her mine runs on ’bout the burnin’ she begins to go back’ards. SAPPHIE [_Fearfully._] What you mean? PEARL