KATE. Thank you. [_Exits_. DAVE. [_Going to bench and beginning work on shaft with draw knife_.] Well--Lizbeth don't know so blamed much about books--[_Shakes head_.] But--huh--[_Shakes head again_.] I tell you--[_Works hard--enter_ LIZBETH _with pan, which she puts on forge_. DAVE. [_Commanding_.] Come here, Lizbeth. LIZBETH. [_Crosses to_ DAVE. _Pause_.] What? [_Falling inflection_. DAVE. [_Cautiously, approving her_.] Why, dog gone it--[_Shakes head_.] Huh! [_Swaggers_.] I tell you--[_Works_. LIZBETH. [_Wonderingly_.] What's the matter? DAVE. [_Threatening_.] If you was to say seminary to me--[_Swaggers_.] Huh! [_Works_. LIZBETH. [_After pause_.] What? DAVE. [_Ominously_.] Why, Lizbeth, the sooner we git married an' git out o' this, the better. LIZBETH. [_Hopelessly_.] Well, what kin I do? DAVE. [_Working_.] Dog gone it--if I had a stidy job! LIZBETH. [_Understandingly_.] I know that, Dave. [_Goes back to pan_. DAVE. [_Bragging_.] An' you bet your _father_ knows it. LIZBETH. [_Portentously_.] Well, I told _ma_-- DAVE. An' that's what he said. If I had a stidy job-- _Enter_ EM'LY. EM'LY. Hello-- DAVE. Why, how de do? LIZBETH. Can't you come in? EM'LY. Who's there? [_Indicates kitchen_. LIZBETH. Only the folks and Jim. EM'LY. I want Jim--say--Sam's there. [_Off_. LIZBETH. Sam Fowler!--Oh, ma--[_Exits_. DAVE. Sam--why, see here. Sam! [_Goes up_. SAM _enters. Wears express blue and a cap_. EM'LY. [_Beckoning_.] Sam! DAVE _brings_ SAM _down. Enter_ JOE, _followed by_ MRS. VERNON, LIZBETH _and_ KATE. JOE. [_Heartily_.] Sam, Sam, how are you? SAM. [_Shaking hands_.] I didn't know how you'd feel about it. MRS. VERNON. [_Shaking_.] Why, Lor', Sam--I'm glad--I'll bet Em'ly kissed him. KATE _and_ LIZBETH _shake hands with_ SAM. _Enter_ JIM--EM'LY _runs to him_. EM'LY. Jim! JIM _puts his left arm around_ EM'LY _and sits on anvil_. SAM. [_Approaching and taking_ JIM'S _hand, smiling.] You_ didn't think I done it, did you, Jim? JIM. [_Nods at_ EM'LY.] No, not while _she's_ keepin' house for me--ha, ha! EM'LY. He's _always_ stood up for you, Sam. JOE. Well, tell us 'bout it, Sam. Did the papers have it right? _They are a semi-circle about SAM._ SAM. Yes, purty near. JOE. _Did_ you help the feller into your car? SAM. Yes, we were just pulling out of the depot when he came a-runnin' up to my side door with an order from the superintendent for me to carry him as fur as Vinita. He ran alongside and put his hand up, so of course I pulled him into the car. EM'LY. Wasn't you scared, Sam? SAM. Why, no--I thought he belonged to the company, and he went to work with me, sorting and fixing my express stuff. JOE. Well, I'm durned! SAM. [_Intensely serious._] I joked with him--just like I'm joking with you--he was one of the nicest fellows I ever saw. JOE. [_Wide-eyed with gossip._] Don't that beat everything?