DISCOVERED: MRS. VERNON _and_ LIZBETH. MRS. VERNON _ironing;_ LIZBETH _at pan of fire._ MRS. VERNON. Lizbeth! LIZBETH. Ma--? MRS. VERNON. Move that pan a little furder off. The smoke's a durnation sight worse'n the skeeters. LIZBETH. [_Rising and coming in._] Well, we couldn't sleep fur 'em last night, and it's just as well to smoke 'em good. MRS. VERNON. But such an all fired smell--what're you burnin'? LIZBETH. Dog fannel-- MRS. VERNON. I thought so. It's nearly turned my stomich--come, hurry with this ironin' now. LIZBETH. [_Coming down right of table._] Let's leave it till mornin', ma-- MRS. VERNON. Can't, Lizbeth, it's bin put off since Wednesday, an' the furst thing we know we'll be havin' it to do Sunday--get me another iron. [LIZBETH _goes left_.] I'm reg'lar tuckered out. LIZBETH. Me too. [_Sound of sledge hammer from door left._ LIZBETH _exits._ MRS. VERNON _sits on rocker and fans herself with frayed-out palm leaf._ MRS. VERNON. Lor'--to think o' this weather in June. It's jis' terrible. _Enter_ KATE. _She is neatly gowned and is of a superior clay._ KATE. Mother-- MRS. VERNON. Well, Kate? KATE. Must we have this awful odour again to-night? MRS. VERNON. Got to have somethin', Kate, to drive off the skeeters. [_Enter_ LIZBETH.] I ain't slep' none for two nights. KATE. They might be kept out some other way. [_She sits in chair._ MRS. VERNON. [_Taking the fresh iron and resuming work._] I ruined my best pillar-slips an' nearly smothered myself with coal oil last night. I'll try my own way now. It's all very well fur you, Kate, whose got the only muskeeter bar in the family-- LIZBETH. [_In the rocker._] Yes, and won't let your sister sleep with you-- KATE. I'll gladly give you the mosquito bar, Lizbeth, but two grown-up people can't sleep in a narrow single bed. LIZBETH. I hope you don't s'pose I'd take it. KATE. I gave you one to make the window frames. MRS. VERNON. Well, kin the poor girl help that, Kate? Didn't the dogs jump through 'em? [_She indicates the ragged netting on the frame._ KATE. Why do you have the dogs about? MRS. VERNON. Well, when you've lived as long as I have in Pike County, you'll know you got to have dogs if you leave your winders open. There--I've ironed another pearl button in two--yes, an' it's pulled a piece right out o' one o' yer pa's bosoms. That's 'cause I'm so tired, I can't see. Lizbeth, where's them prescriptions? LIZBETH. In the yeast-powder box. MRS. VERNON. Well, get one for me. [LIZBETH _gets box from over the stove._] I can't go on with this ironin' without some beer. LIZBETH. Who'll go for it? MRS. VERNON. Ask Dave-- LIZBETH. [_At door. Calls._] Dave! DAVE. [_Off._] Yes, Lizbeth. LIZBETH. Ma wants you to-- MRS. VERNON. Now, don't yawp it out to the whole neighbourhood, Lizbeth--tell Dave to come here. LIZBETH. [_In a lower tone._] Come here!