You keep away from him. He’s no blood kin of yours, and he’s a bad man, if he is a Jordan. Always makes up to everything he sees in petticoats, and always did. NETTIE Thanks for the compliment, but I’m not looking for any jailbirds. ELLA It will be awful, Ben in State’s Prison,--and I guess he’ll have to go, soon as he stands his trial. SADIE He got drunk and had a fight with the two Kimbal boys, and they licked him, and that night he burned down their barn; everybody knows it. ELLA He’s bad, all through, Ben is. NETTIE He’ll get about five years, father says. I guess that will take some of the spunk out of him. [_A sound in the hall at right._ ELLA Hush! I think he’s coming. [_Ben enters at right with a big armful of firewood and crosses and drops it heavily into woodbox, then turns and looks at them in silence._ SADIE Seems kind of funny, your luggin’ in the wood. BEN (_bitterly_) Does it? SADIE Did you see Orin out there? BEN Yes, he went along home. SADIE How do you like workin’? BEN How do you think I like it? Workin’ a big farm in winter, tendin’ the stock and milking ten cows. How do I like it? [_As he stands by fire Nettie looks up at him._ NETTIE I think it’s just a shame! SADIE (_turns to Ella_) Are you going to make towels all the afternoon? ELLA I am ’til they’re done, then I expect she’ll find somethin’ else for me to do. NETTIE (_to Ben_) Do you know I’m sorry for you, awful sorry. [_She speaks low. Ella and Sadie are at the other side of room._ BEN Then you’re the only one. NETTIE Maybe I am, but I’m like that. BEN Another month of it, then State’s Prison, I guess. I don’t know as I’ll be sorry when the time comes. NETTIE Oh, Uncle Ben! No, I’m not goin’ to call you _that_. After all, you’re not really any relation, are you? I mean to me? BEN No. NETTIE (_softly_) I’m just going to call you Ben! BEN You’re a good kid, Nettie. NETTIE Oh, it isn’t that, Ben, but it does just seem too awful. [_As she looks up at him, the outside door opens and Henry and Emma enter. They see Nettie and Ben together by the fire._ EMMA (_sternly_) Nettie! NETTIE (_sweetly_) Yes, mother? EMMA You come away from him. BEN (_angrily_) What do you mean by that? EMMA You tell him, Henry. HENRY I don’t know as it’s any use to---- EMMA (_sternly_) Tell him what I mean. HENRY (_to Ben_) Emma thinks, considerin’ everything, that it’s best Nettie shouldn’t talk to you. BEN Why don’t you keep her at home then? You don’t suppose I want to talk to her. EMMA Oh, we ain’t wanted here, I guess. We know that, not by you, or by _her_;--and Henry’s the oldest of the Jordans. All this would be his, if there was any justice in the world. NETTIE