Father wouldn’t have taken that hundred dollars grandma left me if there had been any justice in the world. That’s what I came here for, not to talk to him. To tell Cousin Jane what father did, and to tell her about Nellie Namlin’s Christmas party, and that I’ve got to have a new dress. I’ve just got to! SADIE A new dress, and my rent ain’t paid. She’s got to pay it. My Orin’s got to have a roof over his head. HENRY I don’t know as you’ve got any call to be pestering Jane all the time. ELLA She’s always wantin’ something. SADIE What about you? Didn’t you tell me yourself you tried to borrow from her? ELLA I got a chance to set up in business, so as I can be independent. I can go in with Mary Stanton, dressmakin’. I can do it for two hundred dollars, and she’s got to give it to me. HENRY You ought to be ashamed, all three of you, worryin’ Jane all day long. It’s more’n flesh and blood can stand! NETTIE (_to him_) Didn’t you say at breakfast you was coming here to-day to make Cousin Jane endorse a note for you? Didn’t you? EMMA (_fiercely_) You hush! BEN (_at back by window_) Ha! Ha! Ha! Crow buzzards. HENRY Endorsing a note ain’t lending money, is it? It’s a matter of business. I guess my note’s good. BEN Take it to the bank without her name on it and see how good it is. EMMA You don’t think we want to ask her favors, but Henry’s in bad trouble and she’ll just have to help us this time. BEN There’s one way out of your troubles. One thing you could all do, for a change, instead of making Jane pay all your bills. I wonder you haven’t any of you thought of it. HENRY What could we do? BEN Go to work and earn something for yourselves. SADIE Like you do, I suppose. EMMA The laughing-stock of all Veazie! ELLA Everybody’s talkin’ about it, anywhere you go. NETTIE Jane Crosby’s White Slave, that’s what they call you. Jane Crosby’s White Slave. BEN (_fiercely_) They call me that, do they? ELLA (_to Nettie_) Why can’t you ever hold your tongue? BEN (_in cold anger_) I’ve been a damned fool. I’m through. [_Hannah enters._ HANNAH She wants you. BEN Jane? HANNAH Yes. BEN I won’t come. HANNAH There’ll be another row. BEN Tell her I said I wouldn’t come. [_He sits._ HANNAH She’s awful set, you know, when she wants anything. BEN You tell her I won’t come. HANNAH Well, I don’t say I hanker none to tell her, but I’d rather be in my shoes than your’n. [_She exits._ SADIE Well, I must say I don’t blame you a mite. EMMA If the Jordans is a lot of slaves, I guess it’s pretty near time we knew it. HENRY (_worried_) She’ll turn you over to Judge Bradford, Ben; he’ll lock you up. It ain’t goin’ to help me none with the bank, a brother of mine bein’ in jail. BEN So they’re laughing at me, are they, damn them. NETTIE (_at door right_) She’s coming!