JIM. Jes' fun, you know--an' now, Kate, when you're a woman, an' it's only nature for men to like you,--I've got to ask you myself. KATE. [_Pause._] I'm awful sorry you did it, Jim. JIM. Sorry! KATE. Yes, because I like you well enough, Jim--but--[_Pause. Enter_ JOE. KATE _stops._ JOE. Say, Jim-- JIM. [_Motioning_ JOE _to silence._] Go on, Kate--I ain't ashamed of it--before Joe. KATE. That's all there is to it--I just like you. JIM. Well, I didn't know--you used to let me kiss you-- KATE. Yes, when I was coming home from school--I did. I thought I was going to love you then. But there was the school. [_Pauses_] If I hadn't gone to Lindenwood I might have thought so still. But we could never be happy together, Jim--you haven't had proper advantages, I know, and it isn't your fault. My _education_ has put the barrier between us. Those four years at the Seminary-- JOE. [_Indignantly._] Why, Kate Vernon--everything you know, Jim Radburn-- JIM. [_Imperatively._] Hold on--[_Pause._] You've heard her say no, and--that lets you out. As far as I'm concerned--why, Kate's nearly right. I don't know any more'n the law allows--but--that's for Kate to say-- JIM _extends his hand in appeal to_ KATE. KATE _turns her back to audience--leans on anvil, firmly shakes her head "No,"_ JIM _motions silence to_ JOE; _makes a struggle, and pulls himself together--turns and kneels by dog, caressing it._ CURTAIN. ACT III. SCENE. _Same as_ ACT I, _but tidy. Doors closed and lamp lighted. Song in blacksmith shop before rise of curtain._ DISCOVERED. DAVE _and_ LIZBETH _playing checkers on home-made board._ EM'LY _and_ SAM _looking on._ JOE _reading._ KATE _in walking dress looking out window._ MRS. VERNON _with glasses mending some garments._ JOE. [_Annoyed by song--frets. Goes to the door._] Here, you boys--don't hang around that shop; go up in the square an' sing. MRS. VERNON. What you sen' 'em away fur? JOE. Oh, it's one o' them blamed "mother" songs. Nobody ever sings anything about father--except the "Old man's drunk again," or somethin' like that. DAVE. Your move, Lizbeth. LIZBETH. [_Petulantly._] Don't I know it? SAM. Move there. DAVE. Hold on, I can't beat both of you. LIZBETH. Don't tell me, Sam. I'd a moved there anyway. Come on, Dave. KATE. [_Solus._] A whole hour longer; I cannot wait. MRS. VERNON. What's fretting you, Kate? KATE. Everything. MRS. VERNON. [_Indicates the melodeon._] Play something. KATE. I can't play on that melodeon, mother. MRS. VERNON. Poor old melodeon! for all the music we git out of it--might as well be a folding bed. ESROM. [_Appearing at window._] I knowed they oughtn't be any clinker in that coke. JOE. [_From his paper._] That's all right, Esrom. ESROM. Don't want no mo' coke, Mistah? JOE. No, no, no! ESROM _hands_ KATE _a letter._ ESROM. [_Whispering._] He--he wants an answer. DAVE. Hold on! LIZBETH. Well, it's a king! DAVE. Yes--but I move first. _A knock at street door._ JOE. Come in.