MRS. VERNON. Why, Travers. I don't know what Kate sees in him. [_Returns to door._ JIM. [_Comfortingly._] Well, he's a city chap, and Kate's so smart about them things. Joe, how old is Kate? JOE. Twenty, ain't she, ma? MRS. VERNON. [_In street door._] Lor, no--we ain't been _married_ but nineteen. JOE. Seems longer'n that to me. JIM _looks at him, crossing to melodeon, shaking head._ JIM. How old is she, Mrs. Vernon? MRS. VERNON. They's fourteen months difference 'tween her an' Lizbeth. JIM _looks at_ JOE _again._ JIM. Well, I've knowed her so long, she always seems jes' a little child to me--but Kate's old enough to be thinkin' o' gettin' married, ain't she? MRS. VERNON. I was mother of two young uns when I was as old as Kate. JIM _looks at_ JOE _again._ JOE _is a mixture of pride and apology._ JIM. [_Leans over back of chair._] You know, if I had my way, I'd like Kate to see _everything_. Go to St. Louis, and Europe, an' travel. I've often thought I'd like to be well enough off to take Kate an' jes' do nothin' but travel for a whole summer. MRS. VERNON. Oh, folks'd talk about it, Jim. JIM. Why, I mean married--if Kate'd have me. MRS. VERNON. Oh! JOE. [_Explainingly._] Of course--'fore they started. JIM _looks at_ JOE _in amused disgust._ JIM. An' you know, Mrs. Vernon, I've had it on the tip of my tongue a dozen times to ask her. MRS. VERNON. [_Reflectively._] Well,--it might be the best thing that could happen to her. [_Pause._] Kate's been awful restless lately. JOE. [_Heartily._] An' she likes you, Jim, better'n anybody. JIM. Why, I used to think so, Joe, but since this feller's been in town--[_Slowly crosses and sits on table._ MRS. VERNON. Pshaw--I'll bet that mustach of his'n is dyed. JOE. Don't think about him, Jim, 'cause, if it comes to that, I'll put my foot down. JIM. Not if Kate liked him. JOE. Yes, no matter who liked him. JIM. But I'd want her to like me. JOE. Well, she does. JIM. You think so. JOE. Sure. JIM. Dog gone it! I'd swap my poney for a trottin' horse, an' git one of them two-wheeled carts an' practice in it till I wasn't seasick, and me an' Kate of a Sunday--say--driving through Bowling Green! MRS. VERNON. [_Grinning in admiration._] Why, Jim! JIM. [_Growing with his vision._] An' I'd run that south pyazza all around the house,--and dog gone it--_we'd have a hired girl._ MRS. VERNON. [_Starting something._] That's the way to treat a woman, Joe Vernon, an' if you hadn't been brought up in Galloway County-- JOE. [_Completing._] Why, Jim, when we was fust married she was so jealous we couldn't _keep_ a hired girl. MRS. VERNON. [_Waving a hand at him._] I've got bravely over it. You kin _git_ one now. JOE. Well--we don't need one _now_. _Enter_ KATE. KATE. No, I'm not offended, Lizbeth, but it isn't kind. JOE. What's the matter? LIZBETH _and_ DAVE _appear outside of door and disappear slowly._ KATE. Nothing. [_Crossing right of rocker._] Jim-- JIM. Katie.