They’re all in here, Judge. JUDGE Good afternoon. HENRY How are you, Judge? SADIE It’s a mild day; winter’s most over. Stop scratching yourself. [_This last to Orin who seems to be uneasy and frequently scratches himself._ HANNAH (_at door_) I’ll tell her you’re here, Judge. She’ll be right down. [_Hannah exits._ ELLA Won’t you sit? JUDGE Thanks. [_He sits by table._ HENRY What’s it about? Why did she say we was to all be here at two o’clock? JUDGE She will probably be able to answer that question herself, Ben. SADIE (_to Orin_) Don’t. ORIN What? SADIE Scratch! ORIN Oh. [_Jane enters. The Judge rises._ JUDGE Well, Jane? JANE Don’t get up, Judge. JUDGE Will you sit here? [_Judge turns to get a chair for Jane. Orin scratches himself. Ella rises._ ELLA What is the matter with this brat? ORIN I itch! SADIE It’s warm, and he’s got on his heavy flannels! He’s as clean as you are! [_Jane and Judge sit._ BEN You said to heat this room up and wait here for you and the Judge. Why? I got my stock to tend. HENRY It’s a bad time for me to get away from the store; What was it you wanted of us? JANE I’m afraid it isn’t going to be easy to tell you. JUDGE Won’t you let me do it, Jane? JANE No. I’ve come to know that your mother didn’t really want that I should have the Jordan money. SADIE What’s that? JANE I put it as simply as I could. BEN You mean a later will’s been found? JUDGE No. JANE In a way, Judge, it’s like there had. Your mother left me a letter dated later than the will. ELLA Leavin’ the money different? JANE Tellin’ what she really wanted. BEN Well, what did she want? JANE It was like she left me all her money in trust, so I could keep it safe until the time she was hopin’ for come, and in a way it did come, not quite like she wanted it, but near enough so I can give up a burden I haven’t strength enough to carry any more. [_She stops._ JUDGE Let me finish, Jane. Jane has asked me to draw a deed of gift, making the Jordan property over to Ben. BEN Why? JANE She wanted you to have it. BEN Why didn’t she will it to me, then? JANE She was afraid to trust you. BEN Well? JANE You’ve learned to work; you’ll keep on working. HENRY You mean to say my mother wanted him to have it all? JANE Yes. HENRY I am a religious man, but there was a time when even Job gave up! So--all our money goes to Ben--and he can’t even buy himself out of prison! JANE (_after a pause_) Ben isn’t going to prison. BEN Why? Who’s to stop it? JUDGE (_after a look from Jane_) Kimbal agreed not to press the charge against you. It seems that there were certain extenuating circumstances. A motion has been made for the dismissal of the indictment, and it won’t be opposed. BEN Why did he? Who fixed this thing. JANE Judge Bradford did.