MISS B. Well, then, I will take them off for you. (MISS B. _unclasps the beads after some resistance on_ BETTY’S _part. They fall to the floor._ BETTY _snatches them up and throws them out of the window. She and her aunt gaze at each other defiantly._ MISS B. _goes to the window_.) Mandy, quick, bring me the beads that Miss Betty threw from the window just now. MANDY (_heard from outside_). Yes, missy. MISS B. (_angrily_). Your conduct is disgraceful, miss. Know you not ’tis wicked to disobey and flout your elders? From this moment I forbid you to ever see or communicate with this Dickinson again. I shall restore him the beads, and when I journey to England, you will accompany me. Do you hear? Now go to your chamber and meditate on your misconduct. BETTY. Nay, aunt, I will not give William up; I love him. You may be cruel and dangle your lover for a lifetime, but I will marry mine, and you shall grant me your permission. MISS B. I grant my permission! Never! I do not break my word, miss. BETTY (_scornfully_). Ah, do you not? Who, pray, has been drinking tea daily while pretending to deny herself? I beheld you with my own eyes take your little teapot from the locked cupboard! ’Twould make a pretty story did I tell it. And I warn you, if you do not grant your permission to William and me, I will publish the secret tea-drinking. The town shall ring with it! _Enter_ MANDY. MANDY. Can’t fin’ no gol’ beads, missy, nowhere. MISS B. Stupid! Did you search under the window? MANDY. Poor ol’ Mandy crawl all ober de groun’. No beads dere. MISS B. (_suspiciously_). Methinks you may admire those beads. Unroll your turban. MANDY. ’Fore de Lawd, missy, don’ ’spicion Mandy o’ dem beads. I isn’t got dem. (MISS B. _looks in_ MANDY’S _turban. She takes out strange things including a clay pipe. She also searches_ MANDY’S _pockets and her dress hem. No beads._ MISS B. _is angry_.) MISS B. If you have thieved those beads, naught can save you from the whipping-post, hussy. I will search the garden myself. [_Exit._ BETTY (_confidentially_). Come, Mandy. Tell me where my beads--tell me where my beads are. MANDY (_excitedly_). May de debbil carry me off, Miss Betty, if I ain’t tellin’ you de trufe. I don’ know where dose beads is. But I ’vises you to watch you’ aunt in de garden. If she finds dem---- BETTY. True. I will be there to see. [_Exit._ (MANDY _wanders about the room in some excitement. She does a song and dance; anything appropriate to the period. Suddenly an idea strikes her. She goes to the hiding-place of the key, unlocks the cupboard, takes out the teapot and makes tea, drinks it with an exaggerated imitation of her mistress’ manner, looking about nervously all the time._)